At Rush, patient care is our first priority.

There is no other hospital in Chicago quite like Rush University Medical Center. The Rush difference has a great deal to do with the way research and patient care are intertwined. At Rush, research breakthroughs are translated into treatments that benefit patients not only at Rush but at medical centers throughout the world. So it's no wonder that Rush programs and professionals have been recognized through many prestigious honors and awards.

A Leader in U.S. News Rankings
In U.S.News & World Report's 2009 issue showcasing "America's Best Hospitals," Rush ranked in nine of 16 categories. Just 174 out of 4,861 hospitals in the United States, about 3 percent, scored high enough this year to rank in even a single specialty, according to the magazine. Rush was ranked higher than any other Illinois hospital in orthopedics (#12 in the nation). The rankings of other Rush programs are: neurology and neurosurgery (#12), geriatrics (#24), gastroenterology (digestive disorders — #26), kidney disease (#29), heart and heart surgery (#30), urology (#31), gynecology (#50) and Ear, Nose and Throat (#50). (Learn more.)

Among Top Five Performing Academic Medical Centers
For the fourth year in a row, Rush ranked in the top 10 in the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) annual Quality and Accountability study. In fact, Rush is one of only two academic medical centers that ranked in the top 10 for the four years that the study has been conducted. UHC examined 88 academic medical centers regarding measures of patient safety, effectiveness, equity of care, efficiency and patient centeredness. Of particular note is that for the fourth consecutive year, Rush received a perfect score of 100 percent in the category of "equity of care," indicating that Rush's safety and quality of care does not vary regardless of the patient's gender, race or socioeconomic status. Rush ranked better than any other hospital in the state of Illinois. (Learn more.)

Named Among Top 125 Hospitals In Nation
In 2009, Rush University Medical Center was named one of the nation's top 125 hospitals by Consumers' Checkbook, a nonprofit research organization. Top hospitals were selected from 1,467 acute-care facilities in and around the nation's 53 largest metropolitan areas. (Learn more.)

Leader in the Use of Information Technology
Rush University Medical Center has been named one of the "25 Most Wireless Hospitals" in the U.S. and has achieved recognition on the list of the "100 Most Wired Hospitals" for the eighth year according to the results of the 2009 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study, published in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks.

This year, the survey measured the use of information technology at 1,314 hospitals for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.  Those named to the ‘Most Wireless Hospitals’ had the highest uptake of wireless applications.

An Elite Nursing Program
In 2006, Rush received renewal of its Magnet status, the highest recognition given for nursing excellence. The designation recognizes Rush nursing staff for overall excellence and for providing the very best care to patients.  The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program first awarded Rush the four-year Magnet designation in 2002. Fewer than 50 hospitals in the United States have received Magnet designation twice. (Learn more.)

Setting the Gold Standard for Stroke Care
Earning the "Gold Seal of Approval," the Stroke Program at Rush has been certified by the Joint Commission as a primary stroke center. This certification recognizes hospitals that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Rush specialists in stroke, other cerebrovascular conditions and neurological critical care provide care for people with cerebrovascular disorders in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

Perfect Rating on Healthcare Equality Index
Rush is the only hospital in Illinois and the only hospital in the Midwest to receive a perfect score on the Healthcare Equality Index 2009 (HEI), which is an annual survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. The HEI evaluates the nation's hospitals on their treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients, their families and hospital employees. Rush is one of only 10 medical centers in the United States participating in the survey that answered "yes" to each of the survey's main criteria, thereby establishing a set of model policies, standards and training that will serve the entire health care industry as the benchmark for equal treatment for the LGBT community. 

A Culture of Inclusion
The U.S. Department of Labor has presented Rush University Medical Center with its prestigious 2007 Exemplary Voluntary Efforts (EVE) Award. The award recognizes federal contractors for exceptional efforts to increase employment opportunities for minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and veterans.Rush was one of only three organizations to receive this year's EVE award out of 17 employers nationwide that the Department of Labor invited to submit application proposals. Rush is the first Chicago-area organization to receive the award in more than a decade. (Learn more.) Read highlights of Rush's EVE application.

A Company That Cares
The Center for Companies That Care has named Rush University Medical Center to its honor roll for three consecutive years. The center names hospitals to the honor roll based on a strong commitment to elevating the quality of life for their employees and for people in the broader community. Each of the organizations named to the honor roll sustains a work environment founded on dignity and respect for all employees, develops great leaders, communicates standards of ethics and integrity and actively supports the community, among other outstanding attributes. (Learn more.)

One of the Nation's Top Cardiovascular Hospitals
Rush is one of the top cardiovascular hospitals in the country, according to the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success study. The annual Solucient award for cardiovascular services objectively measures clinical quality, performance and operational efficiency at the nation's top performing acute-care hospitals. The award recognizes heart hospitals that demonstrate superior performance. (Learn more.)

Teamed Up with Chicago's Top Sports Franchises
Rush is the preferred medical center for the Chicago Bulls and the World Champion Chicago White Sox, and is home to team physicians.