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Portland Residents Rank OHSU Hospital No. 1

   Portland, Ore.

OHSU Health System, which includes OHSU Hospital and Doernbecher Children's Hospital and their clinics, has been named a Consumer Choice Award winner by the National Research Corporation (NRC) for the third year in a row. The award is based on the results of surveys conducted throughout Portland. Portland residents preferred OHSU's hospitals most for cancer treatment, neurology and pediatric services. The award was announced today in Modern Healthcare Magazine.

NRC's surveys cover a variety of topics, however, it bases its Consumer Choice Award on the highest average score in four specific categories of patient perception -- best overall quality, best image or reputation, best doctors and best nurses. OHSU, who again shares first place honors in Portland with Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, ranked first in two out of the four categories based on data from the Portland survey, and first in all four categories in a separate statewide survey. Of the 106 markets throughout the United States that NRC surveys, 24 featured co-winners for first place awards.

"We continue to be honored that both Portland and the Oregon community at large recognize OHSU's clinical faculty, nursing and other health care professionals, as well as its entire staff for their outstanding patient services," said Michael Geheb, M.D., senior vice president for clinical programs at Oregon Health & Science University. "Receiving this recognition will only further our dedication to excellence. On behalf of each of our employees, I would like to thank all the people who participated in this survey for the opportunity to continue to earn their trust."

For the third year, OHSU ranked first in best image/reputation. The NRC data shows OHSU now commands first place with 21.1 percent of consumers indicating OHSU has the best image and reputation in both the Portland metro and statewide areas, an increase of nearly 2 percent over last year.

Consumers both in Portland and across the state said OHSU's doctors are the best. The results of the 2001 survey show OHSU in first place with 21.2 percent. OHSU ranks first in best overall quality, based on the statewide surveys, and a close second in the Portland metropolitan area.

The NRC survey also asks patients about other preferences in health care, including choice of hospital for best cancer care, best pediatric services, best neurology services, best heart care, latest technology, widest range of services and care for those unable to pay. OHSU is clearly the No. 1 choice among patients for cancer care, pediatric and neurology services, and the second choice for heart care.

OHSU's Doernbecher Children's Hospital was by far the most preferred for pediatric services, leading the pack at 29.9 percent -- 13.6 percent higher than the second choice.

Other areas where patients showed a significant preference for OHSU included latest technology (35.3 percent), care for those unable to pay (31.3 percent), and widest range of services (28.8 percent).

In the last 26 years OHSU has grown not only in its rankings by consumers, but also in the amount of care it provides and the way it's provided -- OHSU currently employs more than 11,000 people.

In 1975 OHSU had an operating budget of $80 million, today it's grown to $1 billion. Grant awards rose from $18 million in 1975 to $210 million this year. That figure includes $18.3 million in awards earned in 2001 by Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology, which merged with OHSU in July.

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