US News & World Report: UK HealthCare remains No. 1 hospital in Ky., improves specialty rankings

The University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital at UK HealthCare is the No. 1 hospital in Kentucky for the ninth year in a row and was recognized in the Bluegrass Region by the 2024-25 Best Hospitals rankings and ratings from U.S. News & World Report. 

Additionally, UK HealthCare again ranked in the top 50 for three specialties, improving their ranking in each area: cancer care (#36), ear, nose & throat (#37), and OB/GYN (#21). Six specialties – four more than the previous year’s rankings – also received a “High Performing” designation: Gastroenterology, GI surgery, Geriatrics, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, and Urology.

"Being a leader in health care is more than a designation; it is a constant drive to better the lives of our patients," said Robert S. DiPaola, M.D., UK’s co-executive vice president for health affairs. "Maintaining – and improving upon – our U.S. News Rankings shows our dedication to superior care, innovative research, forward-thinking education and the heartfelt service from our faculty, providers and staff at UK HealthCare."

"UK HealthCare’s achievements are a source of great pride, showcasing the steadfast dedication of our team to deliver unparalleled care,” said Eric N. Monday, Ph.D., UK’s co-executive vice president for health affairs. “As part of the University of Kentucky, our mission is to serve the people of the Commonwealth through the quality of the care we provide and by working to increase access to health care across the state. We’re working to not only meet the needs of our local community, but also to elevate the standard of health care throughout the entire state.”

UK Chandler Hospital was also named Best Regional Hospital for Equitable Access – a new category from U.S. News that recognizes success in caring for patients in historically underserved communities. UK HealthCare was one of 98 medical centers nationwide and the only hospital in Kentucky to receive this recognition.

“At UK HealthCare, we believe that you cannot have quality without equity,” said Tukea Talbert, D.N.P., who oversees health equity efforts at UK HealthCare. “We diligently examine our data and metrics to help us identify and quantify disparities that are unique to our underserved populations. That allows us to execute targeted strategies and solutions to address these issues. We are truly the university – and the hospital – for Kentucky. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’re doing here to help all of our patients, and we are honored to be one of the inaugural recipients of this recognition from U.S. News and World Report.”

This year’s ranking marks the eighth consecutive year of Top 50 rankings for the UK Markey Cancer Center, which also received a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center designation last fall. Markey is the only center with an NCI designation in Kentucky. Markey’s rank improved from #44 last year to #36.

“Together, these recognitions firmly establish Markey among the nation's top cancer centers, affirming that patients can access world-class cancer care right here in Kentucky,” said B. Mark Evers, M.D., director of the UK Markey Cancer Center. “They also underscore our collective efforts to reduce Kentucky’s cancer burden through research, prevention, education, and treatment as we pursue our ultimate goal: conquering cancer in the Commonwealth.”

UK Women’s Health OB-GYN is ranked for the second year in a row, improving from #40 to #21. The group provides a full range of office and surgical obstetric and gynecologic services, including subspecialty services in high-risk obstetrics, gynecologic oncology, urogynecology, minimally invasive gynecology and midwifery care. The department also provides a breadth of specialty services throughout Kentucky via telehealth programs - the Kentucky Angels Program (Maternal-Fetal Medicine) and Ovarian Cancer Screening Program (GYN oncology). They also work closely with the Kentucky Children’s Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), one of only two Level IV NICUs in the state, to ensure that mothers and their children are cared for at the highest level. 

“Receiving this national recognition for our program’s excellence in women’s health care is an honor, and this remarkable achievement is built upon the solid foundation laid out by my predecessors,” said Emily DeFranco, D.O., who began serving as chair of UK HealthCare OB/GYN in January. “As chair, I am committed to driving our program forward through research, education, and providing the highest quality evidence-based practice and unwavering compassion to our patients.”

UK HealthCare’s Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, more commonly known as Ear, Nose & Throat, received another top ranking after returning to the Top 50 last year, improving from #49 (tied) to #37. With expertise spanning a wide range of specialties, including otology, rhinology, laryngology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, pediatric otolaryngology, head and neck cancer, and audiology, the department is equipped to address even the most complex cases with precision and compassion.

“We have an unbelievable legacy of high quality patient-centered care and impactful academic leadership that has been established by senior faculty and amplified by our newer faculty members,” said Matthew Bush, M.D., chair of the UK Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. “Our motto in our department is ‘Expect excellence’ – in patient care, in research, in educating the next generation of physicians. We strive to be excellent in everything we do. This recognition from U.S. News is further validation of the high standards we hold for ourselves.”

In addition to the specialty rankings, UK HealthCare also received 14 “High Performing” designations for common adult procedures and conditions, a new record:

• Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Colon Cancer Surgery
• Gynecological Cancer Surgery (previously listed separately as Ovarian Cancer Surgery/Uterine Cancer Surgery)
• Heart Attack
• Heart Bypass
• Heart Failure
• Hip Replacement
• Kidney Failure
• Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma
• Lung Cancer Surgery
• Pneumonia
• Prostate Cancer Surgery
• Stroke

Three other hospitals in the UK HealthCare family have also received recognition from U.S. News: UK King’s Daughters, UK St. Claire, and Kentucky Children’s Hospital.

UK King’s Daughters was named “High Performing” in five adult procedures and conditions (Acute Kidney Failure, COPD, Heart Failure, Lung Cancer Surgery and Stroke) while UK St. Claire was named “High Performing” in three adult procedures and conditions (COPD, Heart Failure and Pneumonia).

U.S. News Rankings for Children’s Hospitals are announced separately, and Kentucky Children’s Hospital is currently recognized as a Best Children’s Hospital and is ranked in the Top 50 for three pediatric specialties:

• Pediatric cardiology & heart surgery, #7 (the Joint Pediatric and Congenital Heart Program, a collaboration between Cincinnati Children’s and Kentucky Children’s Hospital)
• Pediatric orthopedic care, #42 (in association with Shriner’s Children’s Lexington)
• Pediatric urology, #42

“These rankings and recognitions are proof that our efforts to improve quality and patient safety here at UK HealthCare are succeeding,” said Jennifer Rose, who oversees UK HealthCare’s Office of Performance Services. "While we celebrate these successes, we are more motivated than ever to build on this foundation, and we will continuously seek innovative ways to improve and deliver the highest standard of care for our patients."

U.S. News evaluated nearly 5,000 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions; only 11% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals ranking. Hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care and patient experience.

“For 35 years, U.S. News has been a leading resource for patients navigating their health care decisions,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “A 'Best Hospital' recognition empowers patients to seek out medical care from the best of the best to treat their illness or condition.”

To calculate the Best Hospitals rankings, U.S. News evaluated each hospital’s performance on objective measures such as risk-adjusted mortality rates, preventable complications and level of nursing care. The Best Hospitals Specialty rankings methodology and Procedures & Conditions ratings methodology measure patient outcomes using data from millions of records provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This year, among other methodology refinements, U.S. News incorporated new data on care provided to patients with Medicare Advantage insurance and on care provided to outpatients, nearly doubling the number of patients included in its annual data analysis. The Procedures & Conditions ratings are based entirely on objective quality measures.