FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital scored a top honor for state hospitals when it was named the fifth best hospital in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report.

The magazine's 23rd annual Best Hospitals ranking showcases more than 720 of the nation's approximately 5,000 hospitals. Fewer than 150 are nationally ranked in at least one of 16 medical specialties.

Moore Regional tied for fifth place in the state with Durham Regional Hospital. The top four hospitals, in order of ranking: Duke University Medical Center in Durham; Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem; UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill; and High Point Regional Hospital in High Point.

“It is quite an honor to be ranked fifth in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report,” said David J. Kilarski, chief executive officer for FirstHealth of the Carolinas. “This recognition reflects the caliber of staff working at Moore Regional Hospital. The talent and ability of our physicians and nurses puts us on par with the some of the best hospitals in North Carolina, including the academic hospitals.”

Moore Regional was recognized as a high performer in nine specialties:

Cancer

Cardiology & Heart Surgery

Diabetes & Endocrinology

Gastroenterology

Geriatrics

Nephrology

Neurology & Neurosurgery

Pulmonology

Urology

“U.S. News used to only rank hospitals that met selective criteria, and Moore Regional was not eligible for consideration,” said John F. Krahnert, chief medical officer of FirstHealth of the Carolinas. “I am glad they have updated their methodology and now recognize high-quality and high-performing community hospitals. The patients and communities we serve do not have to drive far to get the big-city medicine usually found in the Raleigh-Durham area. They can stay close to home and their families and be in good hands at Moore Regional.”

Rankings Editor Avery Comarow describes the U.S. News rankings as an aid that can help steer patients to hospitals with strong skills in the procedures and medical conditions that present the biggest challenges. “All of these hospitals are the kinds of medical centers that should be on your list when you need the best care,” said Comarow. “They are where other hospitals send the toughest cases.”

The rankings were published by U.S. News in collaboration with RTI International, a research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Highlights of the 2012-13 rankings will appear in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2013 guidebook, to go on sale in August.

The complete rankings and methodology are available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals.

See Friday's edition of The Pilot for more details.