The 2022-2023 Best Hospitals ranking reflects a time of extraordinary strain on health systems. Rising costs, aging populations and the COVID-19 pandemic have placed unprecedented demands on hospitals.
These top five hospitals are excelling in their specialties despite these challenges. They’re also providing great care at a reasonable cost to their patients.
1. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Since its founding in 1902, Cedars-Sinai has evolved to meet the healthcare needs of one of the most diverse regions in the United States, continually setting new standards for quality. Its renowned specialists treat patients from all over the world, transforming the lives of many who were once thought to be terminally ill.
The institution offers patients and visitors the opportunity to experience a rich cultural experience through its art collection of over 4,000 masterpieces. It also helps ease the transition for international patients by offering concierge services, including assistance with obtaining visas and transportation, finding accommodations in Los Angeles, booking tourist activities, and securing domestic aides.
The Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center is nationally recognized for clinical excellence, with 11 specialties ranked among the best in the country. HOK designed the new Friese Family Tower to raise the bar for the hospital’s world-class care and services. Its state-of-the-art design includes a new emergency department and innovative technology for quicker access to cutting-edge treatment, along with calming places for healing.
2. Johns Hopkins Hospital
The world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital is located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the flagship institution of Johns Hopkins Medicine, an $8 billion integrated global health enterprise that unites physicians and scientists of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with affiliated hospitals and community-based health care and surgery centers.
It is known for its patient-centered approach to care and groundbreaking medical advancements. Its doctors follow the “Johns Hopkins Protocol,” a set of guidelines for treating patients that emphasizes patient safety and comfort.
Johns Hopkins has a wide range of specialties, including ophthalmology, pulmonology, cancer, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease and neurology. Its Wilmer Eye Institute is ranked No. 3 in the country for its innovative treatments. The hospital is also known for its exemplary work in the areas of public health, including tobacco control initiatives and maternal and child health. It was a leader in the Human Genome Project, which revolutionized genetics and opened new possibilities for personalized medicine. It is also a center for research and innovation. Its scientists have won many Nobel Prizes for their work in physiology and medicine.
3. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Located in Houston, MD Anderson is one of the world’s premier cancer centers and is solely dedicated to patient care, research, education and prevention. It is a member of The University of Texas System and was founded in 1941. It is one of the original three comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Act of 1971 and is today a part of the MD Anderson Cancer Network(r).
The hospital provides expert treatment for nearly every kind of cancer and is known for its multidisciplinary approach to patient care, which incorporates specialists in each field of oncology working together on care plans. The hospital also has one of the world’s largest clinical trials programs, giving patients access to promising new drugs before they are approved by the FDA.
MD Anderson offers a variety of summer and volunteer opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in a research environment and learn more about careers in oncology and cancer research. Its teen volunteer program helps teens ages 15-18 support patients and their families, explore health care careers and build leadership skills.
4. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
In its 135 years of fighting cancer, Memorial Sloan Kettering has forged a unique model of patient care. The hospital’s physicians and scientists work closely to fulfill its mission of patient care, research, education, and outreach. Its experts specialize in treating many different types of cancer and have created comprehensive treatment programs.
The institution’s medical oncologists have pioneered countless novel therapeutic regimens, and its radiation oncologists are skilled in using state-of-the-art techniques to preserve function while delivering high-quality therapy. Additionally, the facility’s pathologists have unsurpassed expertise with advanced methods to diagnose cancer.
Memorial Sloan Kettering’s research program includes the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, which was established in 2004 to meld the cultures of basic biology and clinical oncology. This program trains gifted laboratory scientists to work within translational research studies.
Memorial Sloan Kettering also collaborates with local oncology providers, including Miami Cancer Institute, to adopt into everyday practice its standards and capabilities. In addition, the institute participates in groundbreaking MSK-led clinical trials to expand patient access to new treatments.
5. UCLA Medical Center
Located on the UCLA campus, it’s home to the UCLA Family Medicine Residency and includes the Nethercutt Emergency Center, BirthPlace maternity center, and UCLA Rape Treatment Center. It’s also known for its highly-regarded orthopaedic and spine programs.
The hospital is also the site of a groundbreaking study into stem cells. In addition, its cardiac surgeons are leaders in minimally invasive procedures.
A Level 1 Trauma Center, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is one of the top hospitals in California and the West Coast. It’s also designed in a “tic-tac-toe” pattern with each floor dedicated to a specific area of expertise.
The hospital is a world-renowned center of biomedical research, with experts in nearly every field making breakthroughs that save lives and change the face of medicine. Some of the more notable accomplishments include tissue matching for organ transplantation, a vaccine for type 1 diabetes and gene therapy. It’s also the first in the country to offer a mobile stroke unit.