North Carolina’s Best Hospitals

Ratings on this page list the state’s top hospitals last year in selected specialties in alphabetical order. Colorado- based HealthGrades Inc. compiled the lists for Business North Carolina using Medicare data risk-adjusted for hospitals that receive sicker patients. It reports on about 5,000 hospitals in 28 procedures and diagnoses. Limited reports are free on the Internet. Detailed reports are available for a fee.

New York-based U.S. News & World Report magazine ranks 50 hospitals in 17 specialties and overall, based on Medicare records, American Hospital Association data, a physician survey and other information. Ratings are free online.

Illinois-based Solucient LLC examines Medicare data and the records of about 3,000 hospitals that handle 80% of U.S. patients. It sells data and consulting services to hospitals and others.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

• FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst
• Lenoir Memorial Hospital, Kinston
• Mission Hospitals, Asheville
• Rex Hospital, Raleigh

Ranked among the top 5% of hospitals in the nation for lowest in-hospital mortality rates for coronary bypass surgery and stroke and for in-hospital mortality and complications for at least 21 of 28 procedures rated by HealthGrades.

In early February, HealthGrades released this year’s ranking of top Tar Heel hospitals for clinical excellence:

• Margaret Pardee Memorial Hospital, Hendersonville
• Mission Hospitals, Asheville
• Rex Hospital, Raleigh

HEART

• Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte
• Craven Regional Medical Center, New Bern
• Durham Regional Hospital, Durham
• FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst
• High Point Regional Hospital, High Point
• Mission Hospitals, Asheville
• Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro
• NorthEast Medical Center, Concord
• Rex Hospital, Raleigh
• WakeMed, Raleigh

Based on complications, mortality in hospital and at one and six months after release for six coronary procedures that include bypass surgery and angioplasty.

VASCULAR

• Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville
• FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst
• Frye Regional Medical Center, Hickory
• High Point Regional Hospital, High Point
• Mission Hospitals, Asheville
• Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro
• Nash General Hospital, Rocky Mount
• North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem
• NorthEast Medical Center, Concord

Rex Hospital, RaleighBased on complications, mortality in hospital and at one and six months after release for three procedures that treat major arteries outside the heart, including repair of the abdominal aorta.

ORTHOPEDICS

• Alamance Regional Medical Center, Burlington
• Catawba Valley Medical Center, Hickory
• Davis Regional Medical Center, Statesville
• FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst
• Forsyth Memorial Hospital, Winston-Salem
• Mission Hospitals, Asheville
• Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro
• Nash General Hospital, Rocky Mount
• New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington
• Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Charlotte

Based on complications, mortality in hospital and at one and six months after release for six orthopedic procedures such as back surgery and hip replacement.