U.S. News & World Report Ranks Emory Among Nation's Best Hospitals for 2010

Emory University Hospital again joins the prestigious ranks of America's top medical institutions in the annual U.S. News & World Report guide to "America's Best Hospitals." Consistently ranked as one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions, this is the 20th year Emory University Hospital has made the list.

For 2010, Emory is positioned among the nation's best hospitals in 11 specialties, including garnering five top 20 rankings. Overall, Emory is one of only 152 hospitals out of more than 4,800 medical centers in the country to be named in even one of the magazine's top 50 specialty rankings - with only Atlanta's Shepherd Center joining the national ranking from Georgia.

Besides Shepherd's rehabilitation ranking, Emory University Hospital is the only hospital in the state of Georgia to have any specialties listed among the nation's elite. These Emory specialties span the spectrum from standard ear, nose and throat disorders to the most highly specialized services in cardiology and neurosurgery. The Emory Heart & Vascular Center, consistently included among the nation's top 20 institutions, has recently claimed many significant "firsts," from the first cardiac catheterization lab in Georgia to the nation's first coronary stent, the world's first minimally invasive triple off-pump bypass surgery, and Georgia's first implantable defibrillator. Such technologies and advancements continue to position Emory as a healthcare provider of choice among Georgians and the nation, as recognized in this year's comprehensive report for excellence.

This year's rankings include:

Specialty                                                   2010 Rank

Neurology / Neurosurgery                        12

Ophthalmology                                         14

Psychiatry                                                 15

Kidney Disorders                                      16

Heart / Heart Surgery                                17

Gynecology                                               22

Geriatrics                                                   23

Urology                                                      33

Ear, Nose and Throat                                 36

Diabetes / Endocrinology                          39

Cancer                                                       41



"We make a promise and a commitment to our patients and their loved ones each and every day to provide the very best care and service in a patient and family-centered environment. These rankings are but one way we measure our progress in delivering on that promise, and help us to continually improve on our service and challenge ourselves as health care professionals," says John T. Fox, Emory Healthcare president and CEO.

"Being again recognized across the board in so many different specialties, from cancer to geriatrics, and cardiology to disorders of the kidneys, makes a tremendous statement about Emory's impact on not only healing the sick, but preventing future illness. I share my thanks, appreciation and admiration with every physician, nurse, employee, volunteer and supporter who has made this honor possible today," says Fox.

"Emory's rise in the U.S. News & World Report in cancer rankings is great news for Georgia," says Walter J. Curran, MD, executive director of the Winship Cancer Institute. "As the only NCI designated cancer center in the state, we are working hard to serve as a resource for oncologists and patients everywhere, but especially in Georgia. Our emphasis on teamwork and collaboration pays dividends in exceptional care, our ability to offer groundbreaking clinical trials, and innovative research. These rankings are an important indicator of progress, and we intend to continue improving for the benefit of our patients and their loved ones."

According to U.S. News & World Report, only 152 of the 4,852 hospitals evaluated performed well enough to rank in even one specialty this year.

To be considered in any of the 12 data-driven specialties, a hospital was required to meet at least one of four criteria: be a teaching hospital, be affiliated with a medical school, have 200 or more beds, or have at least 100 beds and at least four of eight key medical technologies available - like a PET/CT scanner, and certain targeted radiation procedures.

Next, the hospitals had to meet a volume requirement- a minimum number of Medicare inpatients from 2006 to 2008 who had certain procedures and conditions in a given specialty.

Finally, as in past years, each hospital received a U.S. News score from 0 to 100 based on four basic elements: reputation, mortality data, patient safety, and care-related factors, such as nursing and patient services. The 50 top performers were then ranked for each specialty.

This year's rankings may be found online at: www.usnews.com/besthospitals and in newsstands beginning July 27.

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Census Bureau Director To Georgia: There Are Only Three Days Left to Mail Back Your Census Form

/PRNewswire/ -- With three days left to mail back 2010 Census forms, U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves today sent an urgent message to the people of Georgia:

"The census form on your kitchen table is a vital investment in your community. It's time for all of us to do our part. Fill it out and mail it back today. Get it in the mail by Friday and you can avoid a visit from a census worker in May.

"Remember that the U.S. Constitution requires that we count everyone. That means we must visit every household that doesn't mail back a form. It's much easier for all of us - and much less expensive for taxpayers - if we get your census responses by mail. After Friday we have only two weeks to determine which of more than 134 million addresses we must visit in person starting May 1. Join your neighbors who have already performed this important civic duty and take the 10 minutes or less that are required to fill out the census."

As of Tuesday, April 13, 65 percent of households in Georgia have mailed back their form. Nationally, 67 percent have. In the 2000 Census, 72 percent of the public mailed back their forms.

Households that normally pick up their mail from a post office box are already slated for follow-up in May from census workers. But if you are concerned that your household is not in the census address list and that you won't be counted, you can submit your census responses in one of the following ways. Note, however, that there is still a strong likelihood that you will be visited by a census worker in May because of the time it takes to process and verify addresses from these sources:

(1) Call the 2010 Census toll-free Telephone Questionnaire Assistance number, where operators who are sworn to protect the confidentiality of your answers can take your responses over the phone.

-- English: 1-866-872-6868
-- Chinese: 1-866-935-2010
-- Korean: 1-866-955-2010
-- Russian: 1-866-965-2010
-- Spanish: 1-866-928-2010
-- Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010
-- TDD (Telephone Display Device for the hearing impaired):
1-866-783-2010
-- Puerto Rico (in English): 1-866-939-2010
-- Puerto Rico (in Spanish): 1-866-929-2010


(2) Pick up a form at a Questionnaire Assistance Center or Be Counted site in community locations nationwide and mail it back by Friday. The pick-up locations can be found at: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.

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Six Days Left to Mail Back 2010 Census Forms

/PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the six-day countdown for residents across America to mail back their 2010 Census questionnaires. Households that return their forms after Friday, April 16, may still be visited by census workers, who begin going door-to-door to collect census responses on May 1.

Residents are encouraged to promptly mail back their forms, because census data are used to determine how more than $400 billion of federal funding is spent annually on community services, including hospitals, schools, senior centers, roads and job training centers.

"Nationwide, about 65 percent of households have mailed back their census forms. In 2000, the mail participation rate was 72 percent," U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. "Residents who fail to mail back their forms by April 16 may be visited by a census worker in May."

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DGA Welcomes Former Gov. Barnes to Georgia Race

/PRNewswire/ -- With the announcement that former Governor Roy Barnes is entering the race for Georgia governor, the Democratic Governors Association today adds the state to its growing list of potential pickup opportunities in 2010.

"Roy has the right vision to look forward, restore the values that Georgians grew up with and improve the lives of all Georgians throughout the state," said Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Chairman of the DGA. "Roy has the knowledge and character to get rid of the special interest influence that's rampant at the Capitol and get the economy moving again. His campaign will strengthen a healthy Democratic field."

Barnes' entry into the race makes Georgia a high-level pickup opportunity, as recent polling shows him in a dead heat with and even overtaking the leading Republicans. In one recent poll, Barnes is leading both of the top two GOP contenders by 5 points. ["IA poll: Barnes could threaten the GOP streak," Atlanta Journal Constitution, March 20, 2009]

Electoral trends in Georgia also have been moving in Democrats' favor. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin forced Republican Saxby Chambliss into a runoff election, and President Obama came within 5 points of beating Sen. John McCain.

The national playing field continues to expand for Democrats in previously red territory. In the past month, Florida and Minnesota have also become top-tier pickup opportunities.

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