St. Alexius Medical Center Named to America's Best Hospital...( HOFFMAN ESTATES Ill. July...),Health

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Alexius Medical Center, Hoffman Estates, has joined the prestigious ranks of America's top medical institutions in the annual America's Best Hospitals list published by U.S. News & World Report magazine. St. Alexius Medical Center was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for the treatment and care of respiratory disorders.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090716/CG47487)

Now in its 20th year, the magazine's America's Best Hospitals guide is the most extensive hospital ranking to-date. U.S. News & World Report assessed more than 6,000 U.S. hospitals across 16 specialties utilizing an array of rigorous clinical standards - of which only 174 made the list. "We are extremely pleased to be recognized in this manner," said Ed Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Alexius Medical Center. The members of the medical and hospital staff work hard to provide the highest quality care possible for our patients. It is an honor to be recognized for their efforts."

Unlike other hospital rankings, America's Best Hospitals examines entire specialties instead of specific procedures because U.S. News & World Report tries to identify hospitals that excel in a variety of difficult cases across a specialty. Many hospitals in the rankings are referral centers where physicians perform greater numbers of tough procedures. "When the stakes are high, you want the best care you can get for someone close to you," said Avery Comarow, health rankings editor. "These are hospitals that are used to getting the sickest patients."

In addition to the hospitals that appear in one or more specialty rankings in the print magazine, America's Best Hospitals includes an online co
'/>"/>