UCLA Medical Center ranks as one of the top three American hospitals and the best hospital in the western United States for the 18th consecutive year, according to a U.S. News & World Report survey that reviews patient outcomes data, reputation among physicians and other care-related factors.

UCLA Medical Center was ranked No. 3 after Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore at No. 1 and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., at No. 2.

According to a statement from the magazine, the hospitals that make the honor roll are often centers that treat the sickest patients and conduct benchtobedside research that advances the state of the art.

UCLA Medical Center is a nonprofit, selfsupporting 668bed hospital that provides patient care in all medical specialties and is the primary teaching hospital for the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The campus also contains the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital and the Mattel Children's Hospital.

The 18th annual guide to "America's Best Hospitals" is in the magazine's July 25 edition. The rankings are also available at www.health.usnews.com/ besthospitals.

This story is provided by UCLA News.