Baptist Medical Center Named Among U.S.News & World Report's "Best Hospitals 2009-10"
Recognized Nationally as One of the Top 50 Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Jacksonville, Florida, August 5, 2009 — Baptist Medical Center — the tertiary-level flagship of Baptist Health — has been named among U.S.News & World Report's "Best Hospitals 2009-10," and among the top 50 in the country for neurology and neurosurgery. The 2009 edition of the magazine is accessible online now at http://www.usnews.com/besthospitals and went on sale at newsstands Tuesday, July 21.

The 2009-10 list is comprised of 174 hospitals nationwide out of the 4,861 hospitals evaluated, and broken down into 16 specialties. In the 12 specialties in which quality of care can mean life or death, hospitals were scored on reputation, death rate, patient safety and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services; the top highest scorers were ranked.

For hospitals ranked among the top 50 for neurology and neurosurgery, key technologies and patient services were taken into account. Key technologies available at Baptist Medical Center include advanced imaging and radiation therapies such as Gamma Knife® and Novalis Tx™ which pinpoint the precise area to be treated without harming the surrounding tissue. Patient services at Baptist include a minimally invasive spine surgery program, neuro-oncology for brain and spine tumors, and Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Centers. Baptist's Magnet™ designation for excellence in patient care was also considered as a factor in the ranking.

Hugh Greene, president and CEO of Baptist Health, says, "We believe it is critically important to provide state-of-the-art neurological and neurosurgical care to our community, and have focused strategically in this area. This national recognition is well-deserved by our outstanding neurosurgeons, neurologists, nurses and staff."

Neurosurgeon Javier Garcia-Bengochea, MD, president of Lyerly Neurosurgery, states, "Our partnership with Baptist Health has acted as a catalyst to help us attract premier neurosurgical talent to Northeast Florida."

Methodology
In order to be considered a Best Hospital:
1. A hospital must be eligible to be ranked at all. Any of three conditions must be met: it must be a teaching hospital; have at least 200 beds; or have at least 100 beds plus at least four out of eight key medical technologies such as current-generation CT scanners and precision radiation therapy.
2. The eligible hospital must have a specified volume of certain procedures and conditions over three years, or be nominated by at least one physician in the last three years of the USN&WR annual specialist survey.
3. The eligible hospital is then ranked based on reputation, death rate, patient safety, and factors like nurse staffing and technology.