CHARLOTTE -- U.S. News & World Report has ranked the orthopaedics program at Carolinas Medical Center as one of the top 50 in the nation. Orthopaedics is a branch of medicine that deals with injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.
James McDeavitt, MD, Senior Vice President, Education and Research, said the recognition puts Carolinas Medical Center in league with some of the nation's most highly regarded medical centers.
The electronic "America's Best Hospitals" edition of U.S. News & World Report was released July 15 and will appear on newsstands July 27. The annual ratings guide ranks hospitals in 16 specialties including cancer, gastroenterology, gynecology heart surgery and others, in addition to orthopaedics. In recent years, CMC has achieved similar national recognition from U.S. News & World Report for its programs in urology and pediatric nephrology (kidney disorders).
Dr. McDeavitt said one of the things that distinguishes the CMC program is its focus on orthopaedic traumatology, which entails treatment of "the worst of the worst" in terms of bone fractures and related traumatic injuries.
In addition, McDeavitt said, faculty physicians at CMC are currently engaged in numerous research initiatives that focus on identifying the best techniques for treating traumatic injuries. Many of CMC's research findings lead to improved care for military personnel who have suffered severe combat wounds.
He also noted that the program is unusually diverse in its service offerings, with staff who specialize not only in trauma care but in related pediatric, cancer and hip/knee/shoulder care.
Edward Hanley, MD, chair of the department of orthopaedics at CMC, said, "We are proud to deliver the highest level of orthopaedic care to our patients in an organized and responsible environment, and to continue to make major scientific and educational contributions in orthopaedic surgery."
Suzanne Freeman, president of Carolinas Medical Center, which encompasses 17 residency and fellowship programs in addition to orthopaedics, said, "This recognition is well deserved and much appreciated. The real beneficiaries are our patients throughout the Carolinas, who can receive outstanding orthopaedic care close to home.
"We are justly proud of our doctors, nurses and staff specialists, and the success rate they have achieved in addressing such a broad range of medical issues. In addition, we are proud of all the patient care arrangements and rehabilitation therapies that are in place to support patients at our various Charlotte-area CMC facilities."
The methodology used for this year's U.S. News rankings included organizational reputation; number of patients treated; mortality and safety statistics; nurse staffing, available technology and range of patient services.
Specific information about the rankings methodology can be obtained via RTI International at besthospitals@rti.org or 866-309-4561.
Dr. McDeavitt noted that the orthopaedics department, which provides advanced training for medical school graduates, benefits from its close association with OrthoCarolina, an independent practice affiliated with CMC whose physicians provide care at several CMC locations in Charlotte. "They provide a great deal of support and sophistication that results in tangible benefit to our medical staff, patients and residents," he said.
