One of America’s Best Hospitals Akron General Medical Center has been named one of the nation's best hospitals in U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Hospitals rankings. Akron General earned the honor for its outstanding care in Otolaryngology (ENT), ranking 49th in the country. Akron General was also Summit County's top-rated hospital and overall ranked seventh among all hospitals in Ohio. For the 16 medical specialties ranked by U.S. News, Akron General was rated "High-Performing" in 10 areas: cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; gastroenterology; geriatrics; gynecology; nephrology; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; pulmonology; and urology.
This year's Best Hospitals, the 23rd annual edition, showcases more than 720 of the nation's roughly 5,000 hospitals. Fewer than 150 hospitals are nationally ranked in at least one of 16 medical specialties. The rest of the recognized hospitals met a standard of performance nearly as demanding in one or more specialties.
"We are very pleased to be recognized among the nation's top hospitals," said Dr. Tim Stover, President and Chief Executive Officer of Akron General Health System. "Each of our areas recognized is outstanding in delivering high-quality health care. These rankings are a tribute to the physicians, nurses and staff who provide this outstanding care on a daily basis."
The hospital rankings, said U.S. News Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow, are like a GPS-type aid to help steer patients to hospitals with strong skills in the procedures and medical conditions that present the biggest challenges. "All of these hospitals are the kinds of medical centers that should be on your list when you need the best care," said Comarow. "They are where other hospitals send the toughest cases."
The rankings were published by U.S. News in collaboration with RTI International, a research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Highlights of the 2012-13 rankings will appear in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2013 Guidebook, which will be published in August. The complete rankings and methodology are available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals.
Accredited by Joint Commission for Stroke
Primary Stroke Center as designated by Joint Commission Akron General Medical Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval ™ for stroke care. The Joint Commission, a prestigious national hospital accrediting organization, has awarded Akron General Medical Center a Primary Stroke Center Certification. Akron General earned this distinction after the Joint Commission conducted an on-site review in December, 2004.
The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association's statements/guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program - the nation's first - in 2003.
Akron General's stroke program brings to the bedside the best practices which translate into positive outcomes for patients. A perennial leader in offering innovative, life-saving diagnostic and treatment modalities for stroke, Akron General Medical Center is one of a few selected medical centers in Ohio that participate in nationwide clinical trials which evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new techniques for the acute treatment of stroke.
A crucial element in effective stroke treatment is the time it takes to provide treatment. Akron General Medical Center's Stroke Team, including board certified critical care physicians, is available 24 hours, seven days a week, and is able to evaluate a patient presenting with stroke symptoms within five minutes of their arrival.
Akron General's Stroke Program is involved with the latest clinical trials, making the most innovative treatments for stroke available to area patients.
Chest Pain Center
Summit County's First Accredited Chest Pain Center The Akron General Heart & Vascular Center has been granted accreditation as a Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers and Providers. This designation makes the Heart & Vascular Center at Akron General Medical Center Summit County's first accredited chest pain center.
To earn status as a Chest Pain Center, hospitals receiving accreditation must successfully complete the Society's formal process in 8 key areas: Emergency Department integration with the Emergency Medical System; Emergency assessment of patients with symptoms of possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and timely diagnosis and treatment of ACS; assessment of patients determined to have low to moderate risk for ACS; functional facility design; personnel, competencies and training; organizational structure; process improvement orientation; and community outreach programs.
