From one winner to another: New England Patriot Julian Edelman laughs with Mass General President Peter Slavin. Image: MGH Photography
From one winner to another: New England Patriot Julian Edelman laughs with Mass General President Peter Slavin. Image: MGH Photography
They’re number one—again.
Massachusetts General Hospital has regained its place as the best hospital in the country, according to annual rankings released July 21 by U.S. News and World Report.
Boston Children’s Hospital earned a similar distinction in June when U.S. News announced its top pediatric rankings and Boston Children’s came in first.
“It certainly is gratifying and rewarding—and incredibly fun—to be back in that number one place this year,” Mass General president Peter Slavin said in a message to colleagues, a sentiment he repeated at a noontime celebration held at the hospital.
“Our goal, however, is not to win the U.S. News prize, but rather to be the best we can be for the patients and families we serve,” he said.
Mass General was recognized for its national ranking in 16 of 16 specialties, one more than runner-up Mayo Clinic.
Other Harvard Medical School affiliates were also recognized, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which achieved high rankings in 12 specialties, earning it sixth place on the honor roll of 15 hospitals that had high scores in at least six specialties.
This year’s rankings signaled a return to the top spot for Mass General, which was listed number one for the first time in 2012. For the past two years it has been ranked second.
Slavin praised HMS, its perennially top-ranked partner in medical education. Jeffrey S. Flier, dean of the medical school, thanked the people of Mass General for their dedication and loyalty.
“The purpose of this competition is not to beat other hospitals,” Flier said. “The real enemy is disease.”
Slavin also gave credit to Mass Eye and Ear for winning recognition along with Mass General in two specialties: ear, nose and throat and ophthalmology. In the same vein, he thanked Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital for their common honor in rehabilitation.
All told, the top 10 rankings had a strong Harvard flavor. U.S. News said it evaluated 5,000 hospitals. Fifteen made the honor roll and 137 performed well enough to be nationally ranked in one or more specialties.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute placed fourth for cancer care, as did McLean Hospital for psychiatry. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center scored 37th for diabetes and endocrinology.
As speeches at the Mass General celebration drew to a close, a surprise appearance by New England Patriot Julian Edelman put the Mass General honor in perspective.
“We had to beat only 31 teams” to win the Super Bowl, Edelman said before passing Slavin a football. “You had to beat thousands of hospitals.”
