Medical Assistant Jose Camacho cares for Frank Montgomery during a recent visit to the Renal Division.

Margo Hudson, MD, right, and Nurse Practitioner Samira Sheth, MSN, both of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, test a patient's sensation with a tuning fork.

Elena Massarotti, MD, examines patient, Mai-Phuong Tran, during a visit to the Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy Division.

BWH took the number one spot in both Kidney Disease and Gynecology and placed in the top 10 for Heart and Heart Surgery, Rheumatology and Endocrinology. The hospital ranked among the top 20 for Cancer, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Orthopedics, Respiratory Disorders and Urology. BWH also placed on the list for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology and Geriatric Care.

“Our hospital’s presence on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll stands as a symbol of our community’s dedication to our mission,” said BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, in an e-mail to the hospital Thursday morning. “This recognition also is a reflection of the talent and devotion of our entire community who embrace a commitment of delivering the best care possible to our patients and their families.”

U.S. News analyzed data on 4,861 medical centers to produce this year’s rankings. Of those, only 174 hospitals were ranked in one or more specialties. To receive Honor Roll distinction, which rewards “breadth of excellence,” hospitals needed to achieve high scores in at least six specialties. The America’s Best Hospitals guide ranks 174 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties and placed only 21 care facilities on its “the best of the best” Honor Roll. 

BWH tied with Duke University Medical Center for the number 10 spot. Massachusetts General Hospital ranked fifth on the list, and other Partners hospitals earned high honors as well. McLean Hospital ranked third in Psychiatry and continues to be the highest ranking freestanding psychiatric hospital on the list. Spaulding placed sixth in rehabilitation and was again the only New England rehabilitation hospital to make the list.

In Cancer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, BWH’s partner in cancer care, ranked fifth nationally.

#1 Kidney Disease

Ranked number one by U.S. News & World Report, BWH’s Renal Division is devoted to the understanding and treatment of kidney disease. The division has a rich tradition of excellence and boasts many milestones, including performing the first organ transplant – a kidney from one twin to another – in 1954. Today, the Renal Division offers extensive outstanding clinical programs in all aspects of kidney health and disease; outstanding research programs; an active kidney transplantation program; and a premier kidney fellowship training program.

Check out some recent coverage highlighting the division:

• Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Recipient Pedals for Diabetes Cure
• Renal Division Raises Awareness of Kidney Disease
• DF/BWCC Kidney Cancer Clinic Opens
• Higher Doses of Anemia Drug for Chronic Kidney Disease Does Not Improve Quality of Life and Increases Risk for Cardiovascular Events
• Higher Altitudes May Mean Longer Lifetime for Dialysis Patients

#1 Gynecology

Ranked number one in Gynecology, the BWH Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is on the cutting edge of new procedures that advance the practice of medicine and improve the health of women, such as the use of high intensity focused ultrasound to treat uterine fibroids and the creation of a Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery in 2006. The department has a long history of excellence in research and a stellar reputation in teaching, drawing talent from all over the world for educational opportunities. 

Read more coverage featuring BWH Gynecology:

• Spotlight on the Women’s Health Center of Excellence
• BWH Becomes the First Hospital in New England to use the da Vinci Robot for Gynecologic Cancer Surgery
• Robotic Radical Hysterectomy Results in Shorter Hospital Stays: Researchers Compare the Use of the DaVinci Robot to Open Procedures in Hysterectomy

#6 Heart and Heart Surgery

BWH’s Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Division of Cardiac Surgery rank number six on the U.S. News & World Report list. The Cardiovascular Medicine Division is a world leader in clinical and academic cardiology, with staff providing comprehensive cardiovascular care for even the most complex cases to thousands of patients per year. The Division of Cardiac Surgery is dedicated to providing the safest, state-of-the-art, highest quality and most innovative surgery for patients.

Check out some of the headlines the divisions have made in recent coverage:

• Spotlight on the Cardiovascular Center of Excellence
• Care Providers Conduct Free Cardiovascular Screenings in Community
• Team Heart Volunteers Provide Heart Surgery in Rwanda
• BWH Performs First Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement
• A Look Back: 25 Years of Heart Transplants
• Team Effort Led to Success of JUPITER
• Serendipity and Collaboration Shaped Inflammation Story
• Time names CRP finding #2 Medical Breakthrough of the Year
• Podcast: Paula Johnson, MD, MPH, on Women and Cardiovascular Disease
• BWH Docs Participate in a Three-Part PBS Documentary about the Human Heart

#7 Rheumatology

Ranked seventh in Rheumatology, the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy is internationally renowned for excellence in clinical care, clinical investigation and basic research.

Take a look at some of the division’s recent headlines:

• BWH Joint Patrol Steps up for Arthritis Foundation
• BWH Launches Musculoskeletal Outcomes Center
• Spine Center Receives $6M Grant to Examine Hip Replacements in the Medicare Population, Genetics of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medication
• BWH Patient-Centered Outcomes Project Hosts Workshop on Treatments and Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
• ABC News Now: Video Coverage of Summer Allergies
• Exposure to Traffic Pollution Linked to Increased Risk of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Ch 5 story
• Six New Genetic Indicators for Rheumatoid Arthritis

#7 Endocrinology

Ranked seventh in Endocrinology, the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension is engaged in a wide range of clinical, research and educational activities.

Read some of the latest coverage of the division:

• Latinos Living Well with Diabetes
• Laws Completes 5,000th Pituitary Procedure at BWH
• Hypoglycemia During Hospitalization Linked to Higher Mortality Risk
• U.S. News & World Report: Blood Sugar in Hospital Tied to Higher Mortality Risk