July 16 , 2009

We did it, again. Thank you!

Dear Colleagues:

Summertime has once again—for the 19th year in a row—brought us the good news that The Johns Hopkins Hospital has topped U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of American hospitals. Congratulations to everyone who is part of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

While we’ve become happily accustomed to saying so, it remains true that this is a well-earned tribute to Hopkins Hospital’s wonderful nurses and staff, the school of medicine’s faculty physicians, residents and fellows, and the many community physicians with whom we have close ties.

We take neither your contributions nor the magazine’s recognition of your commitment for granted. The ranking is a worthy acknowledgment of the innovative and compassionate patient care that is Hopkins’ hallmark—and of the people who make that kind of care possible.

The news is perhaps especially welcome this year as we watch the final stages of our campus renewal take form; intensify our commitment to patient safety, innovation and community; expand the membership of Johns Hopkins Medicine; and address the challenges of delivering the best care more effectively and efficiently.

For the record, Hopkins again ranked in the top 10 in 15 of the specialty categories. To earn the top spot, the hospital received 30 points, edging out the Mayo Clinic’s 28. For a complete list of all the rankings, see the special edition of Inside Hopkins or go to hopkinsmedicine.org.

As members of the public and our patients become ever more interested in learning more about their health care, independent evaluations such as these rankings are of growing value to them, referring physicians and insurers. The elements of what makes us rank high are firmly in place, and we will, as always, strive for excellence every day of every year to come.

All of the medical centers on the magazine’s honor roll are superb, and we are privileged to be in their good company. We congratulate them all, but for now, our special thanks again to you, for all that you give to Johns Hopkins.

Sincerely,

Edward D. Miller, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ronald R. Peterson
President
The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System