Loyola's Heart Program Named One of America's Best

For the seventh year in a row, U.S. News and World Report magazine has named Loyola University Hospital as one of the top 50 hospitals nationwide for Heart and Heart Surgery.

Loyola also is among the top 5 percent of U.S. hospitals in limiting deaths from heart attacks and heart failure. The listing is included in the federal government's latest Hospital Compare reports.

In addition to rating Loyola as the nation's 45th best hospital for Heart and Heart Surgery, U.S. News and World Report also ranks Loyola 50th in Geriatric Care.

The magazine's America's Best Hospitals issue includes rankings of 174 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties.

The rankings have four components: reputation, death rate, patient safety (new this year) and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services.

"When the stakes are high, you want the best care you can get for someone close to you," said Avery Comarow, the magazine's health rankings editor. "These are hospitals that are used to getting the sickest patients."