Bascom Palmer, Wilmer tops in annual national poll

Washington, DC-The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, and The Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, have been ranked by reputation as the number 1 and 2 ophthalmology centers in the United States, respectively, in U.S. News & World Report's annual poll of America's best hospitals in 16 specialties.

"The exceptional faculty and staff of Bascom Palmer are the source for the superb care that is delivered to each Bascom Palmer patient every day," said Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA, chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. "This honor is a reflection of their contributions to the care we give our patients, our outstanding national and international medical education programs, and the research advances continually made in our clinics and laboratories."

"The 130 faculty and 800 total physicians, nurses, scientists, and staff of the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, and our colleagues at Johns Hopkins, appreciate this recognition," stated Peter J. McDonnell, MD, director of the institute, and chief medical editor of Ophthalmology Times.

Results of the 2006 survey were announced in the magazine's July 17 print edition and are also available online ( http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/tophosp.htm ). Ranked only by reputation, each hospital was recommended by at least 3% of responding board-certified physicians surveyed in their specialty by U.S. News & World Report in 2004, 2005, and 2006.