Top Hospitals in Illinois According to U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Rush University Medical Center have once again solidified their positions as top hospitals in Illinois, tying for the best hospital in the state, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. These two prestigious institutions were the only Illinois hospitals to make it into the top 20 hospitals in the entire nation.

Dr. Paul Casey, the senior vice president and chief medical officer for Rush University System for Health, expressed his pride and honor in the recognition, attributing it to the relentless dedication and skill of the Rush team. Last year, Rush and Northwestern also tied for the best hospital in Illinois, marking a more than a decade-long streak of excellence for Northwestern.

While some critics have raised concerns over the U.S. News ranking system, hospital leaders like Dr. Tom Spiegel from University of Chicago Medicine still value the external assessment as a tool for improvement. The rankings are based on federal data such as death rates, preventable complications, and quality of nursing care, with recent adjustments to include more outpatient data and data from Medicare Advantage patients.

Northwestern Memorial and Rush University Medical Center stood out in this year’s rankings for their excellence in various specialties. Northwestern Memorial ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the country for specialties including cardiology, heart and vascular surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. Rush, on the other hand, excelled in specialties such as neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and geriatrics.

Beyond the top two hospitals, other healthcare institutions in Illinois also made it to U.S. News’ top 10 list, including University of Chicago Medical Center, Advocate Christ Medical Center, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for rehabilitation. With different ranking organizations offering varying perspectives on hospital quality, patients are encouraged to consider multiple factors, including insurance coverage, medical needs, and physician affiliations, when choosing where to seek care.

Overall, the U.S. News rankings serve as an important starting point for patients in their healthcare decision-making process, emphasizing that the best hospital for one individual may not be the best for another. The recognition of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Rush University Medical Center as top hospitals reaffirms their commitment to providing exceptional care to patients in Illinois and beyond.