U.S.News & World Report has recognized The Methodist Hospital in Houston as one of the nation’s best hospitals, placing it for the first time on the magazine’s prestigious Honor Roll.

The Methodist Hospital is the only hospital in Texas to earn a spot on the “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll, which includes 21 hospitals throughout the country. The Honor Roll recognizes hospitals that are the “best of the best” in patient care, patient safety, outcomes, nursing, advanced technology and reputation. This year, Methodist was ranked in 15 out of 16 specialties in U.S.News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Hospitals” issue. Only a handful of hospitals are ranked in this many specialties and Methodist is ranked in more than any hospital in Texas.

The Methodist Hospital has 10 specialties ranked in the top 25, with 12 specialties improving their rank from 2008.

Of the 4,800 hospitals nationwide eligible to be ranked this year, only 174 were ranked in one or more of the 16 specialties. Methodist has ranked consistently in clinical areas since the rankings began in 1990.

“Making the Honor Roll is a tremendous achievement for our physicians, nurses and employees at Methodist who give the best of themselves to our patients every day,” said Ron Girotto, president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System. “As an academic medical center, we are determined to provide our community with the highest quality medical care, research and education, and it’s wonderful to be recognized nationally along with these other great institutions.”

Methodist ranked in the following specialties: cancer (29), diabetes/endocrinology (24), ear, nose, throat (21), gastroenterology (16), geriatrics (28), gynecology (35), heart/heart Surgery (19), kidney (27), neurology/neurosurgery (13), ophthalmology (13), orthopedics (29), psychiatry (22), respiratory disorders (22), rheumatology (23) and urology (13). The hospitals chosen by the magazine received a score that weighs reputation, mortality and a group of care-related factors such as nursing and technology. Each specialty lists the 50 highest-scoring hospitals.

“When the stakes are high, you want the best care you can get for someone close to you,” said Avery Comarow, U.S.News & World Report health rankings editor. “These are hospitals that are used to getting the sickest patients.”

The rankings are online at www.usnews.com, and the magazine featuring the rankings will be on the newsstands July 21.

Also this year, Methodist was named No. 8 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America list.

Having a sick or injured child can be very scary. The last thing you want to do is wait hours in the Emergency Room not knowing if they’ll be alright. If you or your child has a non-life-threatening injury or illness,
such as an ear infection, cold, fever, cut, bruise, sprain, or even a broken bone, we’re here to see you seven days a week, offering the convenience of a walk-in clinic with the expertise of an emergency room.

CHOICE ER is Katy’s premier freestanding 24/7 Emergency Room. There’s no need to drive across town for your family emergency. We’ve brought the ER to your community. Our ER is easily accessible, located at the northwest corner of Mason Road and Highland Knolls in the 24 Hour Fitness shopping center.

CHOICE ER provides a higher level of care than a clinic, urgent care facility or non-hospital-affiliated clinic, because CHOICE ER is staffed by Board Certified/Board Eligible Emergency Physicians. Choice Physicians have over 25 years of Texas Medical Center experience, and they’re bringing that experience to your neighborhood! We also provide emergency-trained nurses and licensed radiology technicians, all of whom offer quality emergency care to the community 24/7 – including weekends and holidays.
CHOICE ER Advantages:

* Treatment for both children and adults with minor and major injuries and illnesses,
* Average wait time LESS than 15 minutes,
* Free and easy-access parking,
* Pediatric Treatment Rooms,
* On-site Laboratory, Ultrasound, CT and
X-Ray, and
* Patients requiring in-patient hospital services will be expedited to the hospital of their choice.

CHOICE ER is Prompt, Professional and Personalized for all your family’s emergency medical needs. Visit us today!

At Memorial Hermann, it means not being satisfied with the current state of medicine. It means doing all we can to save more lives and improve clinical outcomes. For Memorial Hermann’s affiliated physicians, it means tirelessly searching for better ways to diagnose and treat patients while harnessing the latest technologies. For our nearly 20,000 employees, it means exercising uncompromising commitment to deliver the best care possible using the safest methods. For our patients, it means having the best tools to prevent health problems as well as the best chance to regain their health and reclaim their lives following an illness or injury.

At CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital, our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. We believe every single physician, Associate, and volunteer is a living and breathing extension of our mission. Furthermore, we believe we have been called to serve with excellence and care in an environment that serves as a testament of God’s love and compassion.

CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital offers Katy and surrounding communities the latest technology in medical care, providing a broad spectrum of adult, pediatric, medical, surgical and obstetrical care, as well as numerous ambulatory services. We offer compassionate health care in a caring environment.

Texas Children’s Hospital offers a full spectrum of specialized pediatric health care that cannot be found in general-care hospitals. From the integration of teams to specially sized equipment and instruments, every aspect of care at Texas Children’s is designed for children. The concept of family centered care is at the heart of the hospital’s mission.

A national benchmark study for 2009 puts Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital and Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center in the Top 100 U.S. hospitals.