SSM St. Mary’s Health Center makes U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospital list

Media Contact  Eric Clark (314) 768-8807 (office), (314) 903-4278 (pager)

Richmond Heights, MO., July 17, 2007 – In its July 16 edition, U.S. News & World Report, one of the nation’s most reliable sources for national, world and international news, ranked SSM St. Mary’s Health Center among the country’s top hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery services.

The ranking was part of the publication’s annual Best Hospitals list, which names the nation’s most competent hospitals that are skilled at treating complicated illnesses. Out of 5,462 hospitals studied by U.S. News this year, only 173 met its rigid standards. Based on St. Mary’s reputation, mortality index, patient volume, nursing services, technology and other factors, the weekly news magazine placed St. Mary’s on a list 50 top neurology and neurosurgery providers. St. Mary’s joined powerhouse medical centers such as Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Mayo Clinic, and Massachusetts General Hospital in the ranking.

“This ranking puts us among national leaders in the industry that are setting standards for clinical excellence in the delivery of neurological services,” said Sr. Susan Scholl, president, SSM St. Mary’s Health Center. “We are especially proud of our neurologists and neurosurgeons and staff, who continuously strive to offer the highest quality of neurological patient care on a daily basis.”

For more information about the Best Hospitals list, visit the U.S. News Web site.

About St. Mary’s

SSM St. Mary's Health Center, located at 6420 Clayton Road in Richmond Heights, Missouri, is a member of SSM Health Care, the first-ever health care recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest honor for quality.  Driven by a mission of faith-based humanitarian service, St. Mary’s is a major community teaching hospital affiliated with the Saint Louis University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The hospital offers a wide variety of outpatient services, is licensed for 582 beds, employs 2,100 people and has more than 800 physicians on staff, representing all medical specialties. St. Mary's is a winner of the 2007 Premier Award for Quality for care of heart failure, was named among the 2006 Solucient 100 Top Hospitals® for setting new national standards for clinical outcomes, patient safety, financial performance, efficiency, and growth in patient volume, and, in 2004, was named a top cardiovascular hospital by Solucient.

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