WJMC - U.S. News and World Report

U.S. News & World Report Ranks West Jefferson Medical Center Among the Country's Best Hospitals

Marrero, LA, July 17, 2003 For the third year in a row, U.S.News & World Report magazine ranks West Jefferson Medical Center among America's Best Hospitals.

The 2003 edition of America's Best Hospitals, to be published in the July 28th issue of U.S.News & World Report, is slated to appear on newsstands July 21. The national publication reveals its findings today at 6:00 PM. This year, West Jefferson Medical Center ranks 40 of the top 50 hospitals in the category Rheumatology from more than 6,000 hospitals across the country.

A. Gary Muller, F.A.C.H.E.
President and CEO
West Jefferson Medical Center

"With osteoarthritis and osteoporosis climbing as baby boomers turn gray, we are especially gratified to learn that West Jefferson Medical Center was named one of America's best hospitals, and ranked in the category Rheumatology for 2003," comments West Jefferson's president and chief executive officer, A. Gary Muller, F.A.C.H.E.

"The doctors, nurses, therapists, staff and volunteers of West Jefferson Medical Center should be very proud of this recognition," adds Gary Muller. "It is their dedication to the care of our patients and meeting community need that allow us to reach the distinction of being ranked among the best hospitals in the nation."

"It is of particular note that our hospital was ranked for the third consecutive year in the U.S.News and World Report Best Hospitals guide," says Steve Theriot, Chairman of the West Jefferson Medical Center Board of Directors.

I am especially proud, on learning of the Best Hospitals ranking, to commend our employees, administration, physicians, and volunteers for their hard work, compassion and dedication to excellence in the care of the patients we serve," Theriot adds.

Steve J. Theriot
Chairman of the Board
West Jefferson Medical Center

Francis J. Alessi, M.D.
President and Chief of the Medical Staff
West Jefferson Medical Center

With this honor West Jefferson Medical Center is in the company of such hospitals as the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic, and the distinction is further testament to the quality of medical care available in New Orleans. "We are honored to be listed, once again, in U.S.News and World Report's top-ranked hospitals in America publication," says Francis Alessi, M.D., West Jefferson's Chief of Staff and President of the Medical Staff. "We extend our best wishes to the entire staff for the success of their efforts and congratulate the departments across the institution on the national recognition."

"This is a particularly rewarding achievement for our nursing staff who are involved in the day-to-day care of our patients," comments Theresa Anderson, RN, MS, FACHE, Senior Vice President. "As many hospitals across the country face critical nursing shortages, we are able to maintain strong nursing services, which enables us to provide a high level of hands-on, quality care."

Since 1990, U.S. News & World Report has identified and ranked 50 medical centers with unique capabilities and/or strengths in one or more areas. This year, data was collected from 6,003 hospitals across the country. From that number, a total of 203 centers were chosen in 17 specialties. According to the guidelines adhered to by U.S.News & World Report, a hospital first must belong to the Council of Teaching Hospitals, be affiliated with a medical school, or have at least nine of 17 specified items of medical technology - - magnetic resonance imaging, for example. In addition to those requirements, ranking is based on, among other things, hospital reputation, service, trauma center availability, discharge planning, and the ratio of full-time staff registered nurses to hospital beds.

The U.S. News & World Report methodology used to rank America's Best Hospitals was created in 1993 by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago which carries out the analysis and has refined it as needed since then. A complete listing of ranked hospitals and their respective specialties recognitions will be available at www.usnews.com. West Jefferson is the only Louisiana hospital featured in the 2003 rankings.

West Jefferson Medical Center, a not-for-profit healthcare system, is dedicated to continuously improving the health status of its community through cost effective, quality patient care and excellent customer service. West Jefferson Medical Center is located on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish just ten minutes from downtown New Orleans.