Top Respiratory Hospital in 2009

For the twelfth year in a row, National Jewish Health has been named the best respiratory hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

"We are gratified that board-certified pulmonologists around the country continue to recognize National Jewish Health as the best place in the nation for respiratory care," said Michael Salem, MD, President and CEO of National Jewish Health. "Even in these difficult times, we are seeing more patients than ever, providing more charity care, and adding more services to help our patients."

As part of the ranking, board-certified pulmonologists around the country mentioned National Jewish Health more often than any other hospital when asked to name the best respiratory hospitals in the nation. In addition to recognition by pulmonologists, the hospital rankings were based upon various care-related factors, such as nursing and patient services.

In the fiscal year just completed, National Jewish Health recorded a 35 percent increase in patient visits, which came on top of a 27 percent increase the previous year. Charity care has also grown significantly due to the severe recession. An ambitious plan to grow the integrated research and clinical programs at National Jewish Health, and to broaden the scope of services offered has driven the growth in patient care.

"As the nation debates comprehensive healthcare reform, we believe that coordinated care among healthcare professionals, and the practical implementation of preventive and personalized medicine will provide patients with the best, most comprehensive care possible." said Dr. Salem. "These are already strengths of National Jewish Health, and we are working to improve and expand them."

Over the past two years, National Jewish Health has added services in cardiology, gastroenterology, interventional pulmonology, weight management, diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, critical care, hospital medicine, and expanded diagnostic laboratory testing. It recently opened its Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Center, Institute for Advanced Biomedical Imaging^®, Center for Genetics and Therapeutics, and Integrated Bioinformation and Specimen Center.

National Jewish Health has also expanded to locations in Highlands Ranch, Englewood, Broomfield, Aspen and Vail.

National Jewish Health physician/researchers participate in many National Institute of Health studies in basic immunology, translational research, and clinical evaluations of new and existing treatments for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung diseases. They also serve on several NIH advisory boards that write guidelines for treatment of those diseases.