For the seventh year in a row, the University of Miami's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in the country for ophthalmology in U.S. News & World Report's 2010-11 Best Hospitals annual survey. Three other specialties at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center were also ranked as among the nation's best.

"We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition, especially since our patients share in this special accolade," said Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., professor and chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. "At Bascom Palmer, we provide the best clinical care possible. We do so through the expertise and compassion of our stellar team of 1,200 ophthalmologists, vision researchers, nurses, ophthalmic technicians and outstanding support staff."

The three other University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center programs that joined Bascom Palmer in the rankings are neurology and neurosurgery, ranked 29; ear, nose and throat, ranked 30; and kidney disorders, ranked 49.

"These prestigious rankings recognize the exceptional quality of clinical care provided by our Miller School physicians, nurses, and technicians to every single patient they come in contact with," said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the Miller School of Medicine and CEO of UHealth-University of Miami Health System. "Our enduring relationship with Jackson Memorial Hospital enables us to continue to provide world-class academic medicine to our South Florida community and far beyond, making University of Miami/Jackson a true medical destination."

Among the ranked specialties at the University of Miami/Jackson, the Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery are renowned for innovative stroke care and unparalleled treatment in spinal cord injury. The Department of Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) is a world leader in the use of cochlear implants to restore hearing in children and adults. And a top tier kidney transplant program is just one of the areas of expertise among physicians treating kidney disorders at the medical center.

Last month, two pediatric specialties long renowned for delivering cutting-edge care and exceptional outcomes at Holtz Children's Hospital at University of Miami/Jackson earned spots on U.S. News' prestigious list of "America's Best Children's Hospitals'' for the second year in a row. Holtz was ranked 24th for its care of children with diabetes or other endocrine disorders and earned the No. 25 spot for its neonatology program.

Twelve of the 16 specialties ranked last week were driven by hard data such as death rates, procedure volume, and balance of nurses and patients. In the four remaining specialties - ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and rheumatology - hospitals were ranked on reputation alone.

"Being named one of America's best hospitals once again by U.S. News & World Report is a testament to the expertise of Jackson Memorial Hospital's medical staff and the compassionate, cutting-edge care we provide to the community and patients from around the world who put their lives in our hands," said Eneida O. Roldan, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., President and CEO of the Jackson Health System. "Along with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, we are committed to caring for the sick and injured, and helping to improve the lives of countless others. We are honored to receive this recognition of our work."

The standards for ranking in "Best Hospitals" are rigorous. Out of the 4,852 hospitals evaluated, just 152 scored high enough this year to be ranked in even one specialty. To be considered in any of the 12 data-driven specialties, a hospital first had to meet at least one of four criteria: be a teaching hospital, be affiliated with a medical school, have at least 200 beds, or have 100 or more beds and at least four of eight key medical technologies available, such as a PET/CT scanner and certain precision radiation therapies.

Next, the hospitals had to meet a volume requirement, individually calculated for each specialty. The required volume was the number of Medicare inpatients from 2006 to 2008 who had various specified procedures and conditions in the specialty. A hospital that fell short could still qualify if it had been nominated by at least one physician in any of the U.S. News Best Hospitals reputational surveys conducted in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

The rankings will be featured in the August print issue of U.S. News, available on newsstands July 27.