For the fourth consecutive year, Rush University Medical has been ranked as one of five top performing academic medical centers in the country based on high performance in quality and safety by the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). The study also gave Rush a perfect score in equity of care.

The UHC 2008 Quality and Accountability Study, was guided by six elements of care—safety, timeliness, effectiveness, efficiency, equity and patient centeredness.

Since the study was established four years ago, Rush has consistently ranked among the top performers, and is one of only two academic medical centers to be in the top 10 each year of the study.

The other four top performing academic medical centers and their university affiliates were: Methodist Hospital-A Clarian Health Partner, Indianapolis (Indiana University); St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston (Texas Medical Center, University of Texas); University Medical Center, Tucson (University of Arizona); and the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison.

"This study shows the true meaning of the hard work and dedication on the part of every employee at Rush toward our mission of providing the very best care for our patients," said Larry Goodman, MD, president and CEO of Rush. "We are especially pleased that the study showed, once again, that the quality of Rush's care does not vary regardless of a patient's gender, race or socioeconomic status."

 For more information, read the news release. To learn more about Rush's commitment to the community, read the 2008 Rush Community Benefits Report.