FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital was recognized as a high performer in pulmonology and eight other specialities in being named the fifth-best hospital in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Michael Pritchett, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at the hospital, called the recognition “exciting and unexpected.”

“The magazine traditionally ranked metro hospitals across the country,” said Pritchett, who is also medical director of the hospital’s intensive care units and director of the Chest Center of the Carolinas. “It was nice to see them change their criteria and start to recognize the quality of care that community hospitals can give.”

Pritchett said the recognition justifies not only the quality of care, but the pursuit of new technologies.

“These advanced techniques have allowed us to achieve more accurate and earlier diagnoses in a less invasive fashion,” he said. “We always like to thank the foundation of Moore Regional Hospital because they have provided money for these new technologies. The technologies have improved patient care, which is really the bottom line for all of us.”

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, CEO of 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.”

In addition to pulmonology, Moore Regional was recognized as a high performer in cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, and 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.”

Dr. Ellen Willard, a medical oncologist who is medical director of the FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center, said she was “thrilled to see the oncology program get some well-deserved recognition.”

“The quality and available services here probably exceed many hospitals of our size in North Carolina,” said Willard, who has been with FirstHealth for almost 21 years. “It’s nice to see the oncology program get the recognition that has gone to other programs through the years. We’ve worked hard over the years to grow the program to where it is today.”

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,” Comarow said. “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 2012-2013 rankings will appear in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2013 guidebook, to go on sale in August.

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@the-pilotcom.