NEWS RELEASE FROM MAYO CLINIC HEALTH SYSTEM:

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire is among the nation’s Best Regional Hospitals 2011-12, according to U.S. News & World Report, publisher of “Best Hospitals.” It is the only hospital in northwest Wisconsin to receive this ranking.

U.S. News annually publishes the Best Hospitals rankings in July. At the midpoint of 2011-12, U.S. News editors have recognized 247 hospitals outside the major metropolitan areas as Best Regional Hospitals. The list of those hospitals is available online at usnews.com/bestregionalhospitals.

“We are so pleased to be included in the U.S. News listing of Best Regional Hospitals,” says Randall Linton, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. “This recognition is a reflection of the commitment by our staff to put the needs of the patient first every day.”

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minn., also made the list of Best Regional Hospitals.

Best Regional Hospitals offer a high level of medical care to communities that otherwise might have limited options, says Avery Comarow, U.S. News health rankings editor. “All Best Regional Hospitals are what we call ‘high performers’ in at least one medical specialty,” Comarow says. “They are fully capable of providing first-rate care, even to most patients who have serious conditions or need demanding procedures.”

U.S. News annually evaluates nearly 5,000 hospitals in 16 different medical specialties. Hard numbers stand behind its analysis in most specialties — death rates, patient safety, procedure volume and other objective data. Physicians’ responses to a national survey, in which specialists are asked to name hospitals they consider best in their specialty for the toughest cases, also are factored in.

Mayo Clinic also has been included in U.S. News’ annual list of “Best Hospitals” for 22 years. Hospitals included in the Honor Roll, such as Mayo Clinic, are part of a small group recognized for “breadth of excellence,” according to the magazine.