UMC picked for top 100 in nation

Thursday, Jan. 8, 1998 | 10:41 a.m.

University Medical Center has been chosen as one of the nation's top 100 hospitals in 1997, according to a national study.

The annual study, to be published this month in Modern Healthcare magazine, was conducted by HCIA Inc. and the William M. Mercer Inc. Health Care Provider Consulting practice.

Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president of Industry Relations with HCIA, said this was the first time a hospital in Nevada was chosen by the annual study.

UMC competed against 300 in its category of teaching hospitals with 250 beds or more. Out of 5,600 hospitals nationwide, 3,100 were initially selected for consideration in the "100 Top Hospitals -- Benchmarks for Success" study.

"We have made many improvements in the quality of care available to Clark County residents, and it's rewarding to have our hospital recognized for our outstanding efforts," said William Hale, UMC chief executive officer.

Hospitals were judged in nine areas of clinical quality practices, operations and financial management.

"It is especially difficult to make the list," Chenoweth said. "Hospitals go up against all the other hospitals in the country."

HCIA Inc. is a leading health care information content company that develops and markets clinical and financial decision support systems used by hospitals, integrated delivery systems, managed care organizations, employers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Mercer is one of the nation's leading human resources consulting firms.

A summary version of the study can be found on the HCIA web site at www.hcia.com and the Mercer web site at www.mercer.com.