This week, U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) released its annual report on the nation's best hospitals. Ear/nose/throat disorders, nephrology, and rheumatology at MUSC scored in the top 50 in the country. MUSC is also "high-performing" in treating cancer, gynecologic disorders, orthopedics and cardiology and heart surgery. Programs for diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology, geriatrics and urology also were considered high-performing. Fewer than 150 of the nation's 5,000 hospitals are nationally ranked in at least one of 16 medical specialties.

To see MUSC scores and rankings on the USNWR website, click here.

For a shortened table developed internally and showing performance over time, click here.

MUSC ranked first in South Carolina and for the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metro area. These state and local rankings recognize more than 700 hospitals with a record of high performance in key medical specialties, including hospitals already identified as the best in the nation. The Children's Hospital was ranked a few weeks ago in the annual pediatric survey. See previous column on this topic.

"A hospital that emerges from our analysis as one of the best has much to be proud of," said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. "Only about 15 percent of hospitals are recognized for their high performance as among their region's best. Just 3 percent of all hospitals earn a national ranking in any specialty."

The recognition as South Carolina's #1 hospital is particularly gratifying for the dedicated teams of physicians and staff who not only provide high quality care everyday, but also teach the next generation, and test new discoveries. This is further evidence of MUSC's focus on expertise and excellence through high performance teamwork.

Rankings and eligibility are driven by data, including reputation, death rate, patient safety, and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services.