July 26, 2022- The U.S. News & World Report 2022-2023 Best Hospitals Rankings have rated No. 1 in Utah and the Salt Lake City metro area for the ninth consecutive year and the John A. Moran Eye Center 10th in the country for ophthalmology care. Huntsman Cancer Institute at the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah ranked 33rd in the country for cancer care, and the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital was ranked 50th for rehabilitation care.
This is the third year U.S News & World Report has ranked the Moran Eye Center, long designated as high performing, on its published list of the top eye centers in the nation. The ranking marks the first time any Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Health clinical facility placed in the top 10. The ophthalmology ranking is determined entirely by expert opinion, based on responses from three years of surveys of ophthalmologists.
Randall J Olson, MD, CEO of Moran Eye center, Distinguished Professor, and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah, said the ranking is a recognition of just how far Utah has come.
"When I started practicing 40 years ago, Utahns had very few eye care options and I was, in fact, the sole ophthalmologist at the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah," he said. "My goal was to create a premier eye care center in Utah. This ranking confirms patients can find eye care in the Mountain West that rivals that of the coasts, including some of the best-known names in health care. I am thankful for our highly skilled team and this recognition from their peers."
Huntsman Cancer Institute was ranked 33rd in the country for cancer care among more than 4,000 medical centers evaluated. This ranking is an evaluation of quantitative measures, including patient safety, outcomes, research programs, and more, as well as a survey of physicians across the country.
"We are grateful for this prestigious honor that reflects the dedication of our cancer care and research teams in furthering our vision of delivering a cancer-free frontier," said Sachin Apte, MD, chief clinical officer at Huntsman Cancer Institute and physician-in-chief of the cancer hospital. "To be recognized at such a high level confirms that when patients come to Huntsman Cancer Institute for treatment, they will receive exemplary world-class care."
This is the first year that the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report. This rating is based on analysis of hospital performance, including care of patients recovering from events such as stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and severe burns.
"Our hospital opened in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, so this recognition is incredibly meaningful," said David Steinberg, MD, MMM, executive medical director of Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah. "Our teams have worked diligently under difficult circumstances to create an exceptional and healing experience for our patients, and I’m gratified to know our team’s hard work has been recognized."
U.S. News evaluates the nation’s top hospitals and 17 medical specialties each year. In addition to cancer, ophthalmology, and rehabilitation, U of U Health was listed in two "high performing" categories: psychiatry, as well as pulmonology and lung surgery.
The Best Hospitals rankings are based on measures such as risk-adjusted survival and discharge-to-home rates, volume, and quality of nursing, among other care-related indicators.
"This recognition rests squarely on the shoulders of our teams," said Dan Lundergan, CEO at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics. "Despite a pandemic, staffing challenges, and numerous other factors, our teams continue to provide the highest quality care to our patients. This recognition is an honor, and I’m incredibly grateful to the physicians, nurses, clinicians, and staff who made it possible."
For the 2022-2023 rankings, U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 4,750 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures, and conditions. In the 17 specialty areas, 175 hospitals were ranked in at least one specialty. In rankings by state and metro area, U.S. News recognized hospitals as high performing across multiple areas of care.
The rankings for all hospitals and specialties are available at