101 Hospitals With Great Orthopedic Programs

Staff -
Becker's Hospital Review is pleased to name 101 Hospitals with Great Orthopedic Programs for 2012. Hospitals included on this list have orthopedic surgery departments with outstanding reputations, making them worthy of recognition. Exceptional departments often include physicians who treat professional athletes, engage in cutting-edge research and perform a large number of orthopedic procedures every year. Many of these hospitals have been recognized for excellence in orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report, HealthGrades and Thomson Reuters, and several have earned Magnet accreditation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Note: Hospitals do not and cannot pay for inclusion on this list. This list is not an endorsement of included hospitals or associated healthcare providers.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis). Established in 1970, Abbott Northwestern Hospital formed from a merger between Abbott Hospital and Northwestern Hospital, which dates back to the 19th century. The hospital's current joint replacement center was established in 2008 and reported an average length of stay for joint replacement patients at 3.03 days between September 2008 and March 2009, compared to the national average of four to five days. U.S News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top fifty for orthopedics in 2011-12.

Allegheny General Hospital (Pittsburgh).
Allegheny General Hospital has a long history of caring for patients in the Pittsburgh area; it first opened as a 50-bed hospital in 1886. It is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, designated by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. The orthopedic surgeons at Allegheny General Hospital have advanced training in less-invasive and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Allegheny is also the official medical provider for orthopedic and rehabilitation care for the Pittsburgh Pirates, a Major League Baseball team.

Aurora BayCare Medical Center (Green Bay, Wis.). Aurora BayCare Medical Center is a 167-bed full-service hospital and a joint venture of Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care and BayCare Clinic, a physician-owned specialty clinic. The hospital offers minimally invasive outpatient total knee replacements, reverse total shoulder replacements, arthroscopic labral repairs in the hip and biological-based repairs for ACL injuries, among other procedures. The medical center received a five-star HealthGrades rating for back and neck surgeries in 2012, with average patient length of stay at 1.9 days, more than one day below the Wisconsin average.  

Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis). Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine, was created in 1996 after a merger between Barnes Hospital and The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. The physicians in the orthopedics department are team physicians for several St. Louis teams, including the St. Louis Rams and St. Louis Blues. Available services include sports medicine, spine, extremities, musculoskeletal oncology and joint preservation and replacement. The surgeons are focused on providing less-invasive procedures and perform more than 1,200 orthopedic procedures annually. Barnes-Jewish was ranked among the top 10 hospitals for orthopedics in 2011-12 by U.S News & World Report.

Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington (Texas). Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital is a specialty hospital that has received The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for hip and knee replacement. Physicians on staff include 17 orthopedic specialists, specializing in sports medicine, joint replacement and spine. The hospital specializes in providing comprehensive outpatient and inpatient treatment for orthopedic and spine disorders, offering minimally invasive treatments for hips, knees, shoulders and spine, as well as full joint replacements and complex spinal surgery when necessary.

Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Mich.). Beaumont's implant retrieval and analysis section is one of the largest joint implant libraries in the country, containing more than 4,300 specimens to help physicians and scientists research wear patterns and device failures. The department of orthopedic surgery includes 40 specialists and subspecialists board certified in orthopedics. Beaumont's orthopedic unit includes 16 suites dedicated to orthopedic technology, physician therapy and rehabilitation. The department also has a fully accredited residency program and fellowship programs in joint reconstruction, spine and sports medicine.

Beebe Medical Center (Lewes, Del.). Beebe Medical Center's James P. Marvel Jr. Orthopaedic Unit provides orthopedic services designed to treat injuries and conditions affecting joints, muscles and bones. The medical staff includes eight board-certified orthopedic surgeons specializing in joint and skeletal repairs, surgeries, knee and hip replacement and spinal surgery. A specialized surgical team including nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists works with case managers and home health professionals to provide a continuum of care during patient recovery. Beebe Medical received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Beth Israel Medical Center (New York City). Beth Israel Medical Center is a full-service tertiary teaching hospital on Manhattan's Lower East Side, founded in 1890. Currently, the hospital's orthopedic surgeons perform around 9,000 procedures annually, providing comprehensive care in every specialty of orthopedic surgery. They are board certified and fellowship trained, and many serve as faculty members of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Orthopedic surgeons have expertise in joint replacement, sports medicine, shoulder and elbow surgery and hand surgery. Many of the procedures performed use minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques.

Boone Hospital Center (Columbia, Mo.). Established in 1921, Boone Hospital Center is a 400-bed full-service hospital that serves people in 26 mid-Missouri counties. Boone Hospital Center's orthopedic specialists provide a range of services and the hospital sports three orthopedic centers, including a fracture center, joint replacement center and a recently opened spine center. More than 20 orthopedic surgeons perform surgeries at the hospital. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). Formed in 1980 as the result of a three-way merger, Brigham and Woman's hospital includes a staff of 40 orthopedic physicians with a special interest in cartilage repair, joint replacement, sports medicine and spine care, among other specialties. The 793-bed hospital also includes services for orthopedic trauma and orthopedic oncology. Orthopedic physicians at the hospital are committed to research and have become involved in clinical investigations for tissue engineering of cartilage, bone, intervertebral discs, knee menisici and joints. The hospital includes an orthopedic and arthritis center for outcomes research and a skeletal biology research laboratory.

Bronson Methodist Hospital (Kalamazoo, Mich.). Bronson Methodist Hospital is a 404-bed hospital with origins dating back to 1900. Bronson completely redeveloped its hospital campus in 2000 and is now an exemplary site for hospital design. The hospital recently partnered with HealthCare Midwest and K Valley Orthopedics/Southwestern Michigan Sportsmedicine Clinic to form Bronson Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, a multidisciplinary group of more than 20 orthopedic physicians representing a wide variety of orthopedic subspecialties. The hospital received an award for excellence in joint replacement from HealthGrades in 2012. Bronson Methodist provides outpatient and inpatient surgery options in 19 surgical suites, including a range of arthroscopic and other minimally invasive surgeries. Bronson also offers pediatric orthopedic care.

Carilion Roanoke (Va.) Memorial Hospital. Carilion Roanoke Memorial, founded in 1899, is now a 703-bed hospital. Carilion was the first healthcare provider in Virginia to introduce computer-assisted orthopedic surgery. A specialized orthopedic team at Carilion Roanoke Memorial offers an array of services and includes more than 20 physicians. The hospital received a HealthGrades award in 2012 for excellence in orthopedic surgery as well as joint replacement. It's also a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte, N.C.). Established in 1940 as Charlotte Memorial Hospital, Carolinas Medical Center has grown into the flagship facility of Carolinas Healthcare System. The 874-bed hospital includes a research institute and is one of the state's five teaching hospitals. The physicians, who are part of CMC Orthopedic Surgery at Carolinas Medical Center, provide general orthopedic care and subspecialize in orthopedic oncology, trauma, degenerative arthritis, sports medicine and fracture care. The hospital also includes spine surgeons and physicians who are able to perform minimally invasive radiologic procedures.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles).
The hospital's orthopedic department includes sports medicine, pain management, oncology, trauma and extremities care services. When possible, the surgeons offer minimally invasive surgery to treat its orthopedic and spine patients. Several of the hospital's orthopedic spine surgeons participate in research and FDA trials to further advance spine surgery techniques. To complement the orthopedic and spine physicians, the hospital offers diagnostic and imaging services and specialists who focus on metabolic bone disorders.

Cleveland Clinic.
Cleveland Clinic has built its orthopedic surgery department around advanced technology for diagnosing and treating orthopedic, spine and rheumatologic conditions. The surgeons perform approximately 7,000 hip, knee, shoulder and extremities joint replacements each year. Cleveland Clinic specialists are focused on expanding the use of arthroscopic surgery in the hip, artificial joints, tissue engineering and biological enhancement to heal and repair cartilage and ligaments. Many Cleveland Clinic surgeons have pioneered techniques and technologies in orthopedics and serve as team physicians for the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Barons and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (Monterey, Calif.).
Founded in 1934, the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula's orthopedics program includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, spine care and joint replacement surgery. Community Hospital orthopedic surgeons replace more than 500 hips and joints annually. For spine care, the 207-bed hospital offers kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to fix compression fractures resulting from osteoporosis. It received excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement awards from HealthGrades in 2012.

Community Medical Center of Scranton (Pa.). Community Medical Center's orthopedic services focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries and disease that affect patients' bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. The hospital's orthopedic department includes orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists and rheumatologists. The hospital provides 24-hour coverage for all orthopedic problems. It received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Delray Medical Center (Delray Beach, Fla.).
Established in 1982, Delray Medical Center is a 493-bed hospital offering a range of specialized services. The hospital's Center for Advanced Orthopaedics offers joint replacement, sports injury treatment and spine treatment from a team of orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons. When possible, Delray surgeons use minimally invasive techniques and offer complex spinal surgeries using instrumentation systems to stabilize the spine. The hospital received HealthGrades awards for excellence in joint replacement and orthopedic surgery in 2012.

Doctors Hospital of Sarasota (Fla.).
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota is a 155-bed facility with an orthopedics team that also specializes in neurosurgery and spine surgery. Surgeons offer hip and knee replacements as well as laminectomies and kyphoplasties, among other procedures. The Orthopedic and Spine Institute at Doctors Hospital includes private rooms and suites, concierge services and a dining room. In 2012, the hospital received HealthGrades awards for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Duke University Medical Center (Durham, N.C.). Duke University Medical Center is currently constructing a new orthopedics center, slated to open this summer. Surgeons at the 798-bed hospital perform nearly 16,000 inpatient and more than 19,000 outpatient surgeries every year. The services include joint replacement, pediatric orthopedics, spine, sports medicine, orthopedic trauma and orthopedic oncology. Surgeons are able to provide several types of procedures, including minimally invasive knee surgery, computer-assisted procedures and the implantation of patient-specific devices. U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke Medical Center the No. 6 hospital in the country for orthopedics in 2011-12.

Emory University Medical Center (Atlanta).
Emory University Hospital dates back to 1904, when a hospital was founded in an Atlanta mansion that managed to survive the destruction of the Civil War. Emory's orthopedic and spine specialists strive to take innovative approaches to care and bring all aspects of musculoskeletal diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation together at one location. Emory spine surgeons have studied the biological process of bone healing for 30 years and played a role in mastering bone growth factors. Orthopedic surgeons are currently investigating how to best use alternative biomaterial in hip and knee replacements.

Evanston (Ill.) Hospital. Founded in 1891, Evanston Hospital is the flagship of NorthShore University HealthSystem and serves as a Level I trauma center. Orthopedic physicians and staff at NorthShore strive to use the latest technology and techniques to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate musculoskeletal injuries and diseases. Orthopedic services offered include: hip and knee reconstruction, foot and ankle, hand and upper extremity, podiatry and spine. NorthShore also offers sports medicine and is home to a total joint replacement center.

FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital (Pinehurst, N.C.). FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital is a 395-bed hospital servicing 15 counties in North and South Carolina. The hospital opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1929 and is the flagship facility for FirstHealth of the Carolinas. FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital surgeons perform nearly 2,000 total hip and knee replacements annually. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Forsyth Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.). The 932-bed Forsyth Medical Center is a Magnet-recognized hospital that became part of Novant Health in 1997. Forsyth Medical Center's Hip and Knee Replacement Program was the first in the Carolinas to receive Joint Commission certification. Orthopedic surgeons at the hospital perform around 2,200 total hip and knee replacements every year. Additionally, spine surgeons perform nearly 500 spine fusions each year.

Fresno (Calif.) Surgical Hospital. Founded in 1984 by two orthopedic surgeons, Alan H. Pierrot, MD, and Thomas Thaxter, MD, the hospital started as an outpatient center known as Fresno Surgery Center. Less than a decade later, it became licensed as an acute-care hospital. The hospital earned the Joint Commission's gold seal of approval in 2005 and changed its name to Fresno Surgical Hospital one year later. Surgeons in the orthopedic department offer carpal tunnel surgery, ACL reconstruction, arthroscopic surgeries for knee and shoulder repair and total joint replacement surgery. The hospital received a HealthGrades award in 2012 for excellence in joint replacement surgery.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center (La Crosse, Wis.). Gundersen Lutheran is a 325-bed hospital that was born from a 1995 merger between Gundersen Clinic and Lutheran Hospital-La Crosse. Adolf Gundersen, a surgeon and the clinic's founder, was part of a 1917 court decision that ruled hospitals could develop their own criteria for medical staff. Gundersen Lutheran's staff of 30 orthopedic surgeons includes board-certified surgeons who specialize in joint replacement, pediatric orthopedics, orthopedic trauma, podiatry and sports medicine. The medical center received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement. Orthopedic surgeons perform nearly 900 total hip and knee replacements at the hospital every year.

Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. Founded in 1888 with 12 beds, Hackensack University Medical Center has since grown to become one of the state's largest inpatient and outpatient facilities with 763 beds and numerous teaching and research programs. Hackensack University Medical Center's Kayal Orthopaedic Center provides full-service orthopedic surgical care and treatment, including minimally invasive surgery, sports medicine and athroscopy, partial and total joint replacement, trauma and fracture care and care for spinal disorders. The hospital received HealthGrades awards for excellence in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement in 2012. Orthopedic surgeons at Hackensack perform nearly 2,200 total hip and knee replacement surgeries annually.

Henrico Doctors' Hospital (Richmond, Va.).
Henrico Doctors' Hospital is a 767-bed facility spread across three campuses. In 2011, the hospital completed a five-year, $100 million expansion. Henrico Doctors' Hospital added an Orthopedic Hospital five years ago. The facility includes a Joint and Spine Center with hotel-like suites and the latest technology to care for patients. The hospital's orthopedic surgeons perform nearly 1,000 total hip and knee replacements every year. The hospital also includes a Sports & Occupational Rehab Center.

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian (Newport Beach, Calif.). In November 2010, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian opened The Hoag Orthopedic Institute, a freestanding orthopedic specialty hospital formed as a joint venture between the hospital and a large group of Orange County orthopedic surgeons. About 100 joint replacement and spine surgeries are performed at the 70-bed hospital each week. Surgical volume is projected to increase to 125 to 150 cases per week by the end of this year, which will be one of the highest volumes in the country. The physicians focus on knee, spine, sports medicine, orthopedic trauma and extremities care, and serve as team physicians for several local high school and collegiate teams as well as World Team Tennis' Newport Beach Breakers.

Holy Cross Hospital (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).
A full-service 571-bed hospital, Holy Cross in Ft. Lauderdale opened its doors in 1955. The orthopedics department at the hospital offers a wide range of services from shoulder and ankle injuries to complicated surgical procedures. The hospital is also home to a spine center, at which the average length of stay is 2.7 days — compared to the national average of 3.4 — for back and neck spine surgeries not including fusions. Holy Cross Hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Hospital for Joint Diseases
NYU Langone Medical Center (New York City). The Hospital for Joint Diseases was founded in 1905 and is focused on providing treatment for musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. The hospital merged with NYU Langone five years ago. Surgeons at the hospital perform more than 1,200 joint replacement procedures annually. The hospital includes one of the largest pediatric orthopedic programs in New York City as well as a center for arthritis and autoimmunity, neuroscience and lupus. The hospital's Harkness Center for Dance Injury provides care for some of the world's leading dancers.

Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City). Founded in 1863, the Hospital for Special Surgery focuses on orthopedics, spine and rheumatology. Surgeons perform more than 25,000 procedures annually and more hip surgeries and knee replacements than any other hospital in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked it the No. 1 hospital in the country for orthopedics in 2011-12. The hospital supports a team of physicians and scientists to pioneer orthopedic research, and is one of two facilities in the country participating in the Musculoskeletal Repair and Regeneration Core Center, which is part of the effort toward the International Consortium of Orthopedic Registries. Every year, the hospital hosts an orthopedic residency program that draws more than 500 applications for eight spots. Surgeons at HSS serve as team physicians for several collegiate and professional teams, including the New York Giants, Mets and Knicks.

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia). The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, which opened its doors in 1765, currently has orthopedic physicians subspecializing in joint conditions, spinal disorders and sports injury. The physicians in the orthopedic surgery department perform more than 5,800 surgical procedures every year. The physicians are able to use the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory for projects focused on cell biology, stem cell mechanobiology, musculoskeletal tissue engineering and soft tissue mechanics, among other areas of research. The department also has residency and fellowship opportunities in adult reconstruction, hand surgery, shoulder and elbow care. The hospital was among the top 20 hospitals for orthopedics in the country, according to 2011-12 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Indiana University Health at Methodist Hospital (Indianapolis). Indiana University Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is a top-ranked orthopedics program in Indiana, according to U.S. News & World Report. IU Health Orthopedics provides expertise in joint replacement and revision surgery for knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, hands, ankles and feet. IU Health also offers minimally invasive spine surgeries. Additionally, IU Health delivers a full-spectrum of sports performance training and sports medicine care. IU Health received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

John Muir Medical Center (Walnut Creek, Calif.). The 324-bed John Muir Medical Center is the only facility in Contra Costa County designated as a trauma center. The hospital's orthopedic department includes joint replacement, extremity care, spine surgery and sports medicine. The hospital's spine surgeons perform cutting-edge minimally invasive techniques for patients who need surgical intervention. The hospital also includes physical therapy and rehabilitation services for both inpatient and outpatient procedures. U.S. News & World Report ranked John Muir Medical Center among the top 50 hospitals in the country for orthopedics in 2011-12.

Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore). Johns Hopkins Hospital was founded in 1889 at the bequest of American entrepreneur and philanthropist Johns Hopkins. U.S. News & World Report ranked Johns Hopkins the No. 5 hospital for orthopedics in the country in 2011-12. It also received a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, designated by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. The orthopedic department includes orthopedic and spine surgeons, as well as sports medicine physicians. Johns Hopkins' orthopedic surgeons also perform hip and knee replacements and hand surgeries.  

Keck Hospital of University of Southern California (Los Angeles). This 411-bed hospital, which opened in 1991, offers specialized services in the diagnosis and treatment of back pain, musculoskeletal disorders and sports injuries. Keck physicians are team physicians for USC athletics. The hospital also offers minimally invasive joint replacement, extremities surgery and trauma and orthopedic oncology care. In addition to surgical services, the hospital provides pain management specialists and post-surgical rehabilitation. U.S. News & World Report ranked USC among the top 25 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2011-12.

Lakeview Hospital (Stillwater, Minn.). Lakeview Hospital is the second-oldest hospital in Minnesota and has been identified as having the best outcomes in the state for orthopedics by two independent consulting groups. The readmission rate for orthopedic complications is half the national average and lowest in the region. The average length of stay after total joint replacements is less than three days, compared to the national average of four to five days. Surgeons at the hospital provide general orthopedic, spine and extremities care. In 2012, the hospital received HealthGrades awards for excellence in orthopedic surgery, spine surgery and joint replacement.

Lee Memorial Hospital (Ft. Myers, Fla.). The 355-bed Lee Memorial Hospital opened its doors in 1916 and includes the only Level II Trauma Center between Tampa, Fla., and Miami. The hospital's All-Star Total Joint Center is one of the most active joint replacement centers in the nation, performing more than 2,550 total knee and hip replacements every year. Lee Memorial received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital.
Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital dates back to 1911 when it was founded as a clinic for children with disabilities. It has grown considerably since then, recently opening its new 40,000-square-foot orthopedic hospital outpatient medical center. In 1959, surgeons at the hospital  performed the first successful limb reattachment, allowing the patient to regain full arm function. It was also the first to establish a bone and connective tissue tumor program in 1962. With more than 50,000 outpatient visits every year, the hospital offers both adolescent and adult treatment in orthopedic surgery, limb reconstruction, sports medicine, orthopedic oncology and spine surgery. The hospital is partnered with UCLA Health System.

Lourdes Hospital (Binghamton, N.Y.).
Lourdes Hospital's roots go back to 1925 when concerned citizens in Binghamton purchased a mansion that became a 25-bed hospital, managed by the Daughters of Charity. Now a 197-bed hospital, Lourdes receives nearly 3,000 inpatient surgical visits and nearly 17,000 outpatient surgical visits every year. The hospital's orthopedic surgical program beats the national average for days patients stay following inpatient surgeries across procedures. Lourdes also has a Joint Academy offering total joint care, from preoperative education and exercise to surgery and continuing through the hospital stay to after discharge.

Martin Memorial Medical Center (Stuart, Fla.).
When Martin Health System was founded in 1939, its flagship hospital had 23 beds and three physicians. The hospital has grown to 316 beds and has made strides in its medical accomplishments. Martin Memorial's Orthopaedic Specialty Center treats nearly 700 patients annually who receive knee and hip replacements. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement. The specialized team at the orthopedic center includes orthopedic registered nurses, physical and occupational rehabilitation therapists, registered pharmacists and case managers to guide patients through the discharge and follow-up care process.

Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Physicians in the department of orthopedic surgery see more than 60,000 patients per year at Massachusetts General Hospital and treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. The physicians have access to the numerous laboratories dedicated to specialties such as bioengineering, musculoskeletal research and sports performance. The department of orthopedic surgery supports adult reconstructive surgery, combined orthopedic trauma, hand surgery, sports medicine, musculoskeletal oncology and spine surgery fellowship programs. MGH sports medicine physicians are team physicians for the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and Major League Soccer team the New England Revolution.

Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.). Mayo Clinic's orthopedic surgery department includes a multispecialty group of 47 surgical, research and clinical consultants. The physicians are able to provide care for more than 66,000 patients annually. The four specialty areas in orthopedics at the hospital include adult reconstruction, hand surgery, orthopedic oncology and pediatric orthopedics. Last year, the hospital initiated a hand transplant program, which is one of the few in the country. Specialists are also focused on research, which includes work at the biomechanics and motion analysis laboratories, bone histomorphometry laboratory, cartilage and connective tissue laboratory and osteoporosis and bone biology laboratory. U.S. News & World Report ranked it the No. 2 hospital for orthopedics in 2011-12.

McLaren Northern Michigan (Petoskey). Formerly known as Northern Michigan Regional Hospital, McLaren Northern Michigan is a 202-bed hospital serving 22 counties in northern Michigan. McLaren Northern Michigan's Orthopedic Care Center provides comprehensive orthopedic services through a team of surgeons, rheumatologists, physiatrists and nurses certified in orthopedic care. The orthopedic center has 18 semi-private rooms and offers arthroscopic shoulder surgery, cartilage reconstruction, foot and ankle treatment, hand therapy, joint replacement and other orthopedic services. McLaren also includes a rehabilitation unit offering inpatient services. Additionally, patients receiving spine fusions at the hospital stay an average of 2.4 days — half the average length of stay for that procedure in Michigan.

MedStar Union Memorial Hospital (Baltimore). Union Memorial traces its roots back to 1854 when Union Protestant Infirmary opened in Baltimore. This year, the 301-bed Union Memorial changed its name to MedStar Union Memorial. In total, specialists at the hospital perform more than 7,900 orthopedic procedures annually and orthopedic surgeons perform more than 1,400 hip and knee replacement surgeries. Additionally, physicians are involved in orthopedic and sports medicine research, as Union Memorial Sports Medicine is the official medical team of the Baltimore Ravens.

Memorial Hospital (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga is part of two-hospital Memorial Healthcare, along with Memorial Hospital Hixson. Memorial's orthopedic department includes a joint replacement center, spine center and sports medicine program. Orthopedic surgeons perform around 4,350 procedures at the hospital every year. Additionally, the hospital includes inpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies for patients recovering from sports injuries and orthopedic surgery. The hospital received HealthGrades awards for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement in 2012.

Mercy Medical Center (Roseburg, Ore.). In 1909, the Sisters of Mercy opened the 25-bed Mercy Hospital after raising $12,000 for construction. More than 1,500 surgeries are performed at the 174-bed hospital every year, including more than 450 total hip and knee replacements. Since 2003, Mercy has operated Oregon Surgery Center, offering patients outpatient surgical care, including orthopedic surgery. Mercy Medical Center received a HealthGrades award for excellence in orthopedic surgery in 2012 and is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

Mercy Miami Hospital. Mercy Miami Hospital's original building structure is in the shape of a cross, symbolizing the hospital's Catholic roots. The hospital officially opened in 1950 with 125 beds; it is now a 473-bed facility. Founded in 2003, the Orthopaedic Institute at Mercy Miami performs advanced surgical techniques for joint replacements, hip and knee surgeries and arthroscopies. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement. Carlos J. Lavernia, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and biomedical engineer, is head of the Orthopaedic Institute and performs research and surgical procedures with his colleagues. Mercy Hospital also includes a Minimally Invasive Surgical Institute.

Methodist Hospital (Houston). Methodist Hospital opened in 1919 and is affiliated with Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York. Orthopedic services include joint replacements, shoulder surgery, back and spine surgery and extremities care. Sports medicine physicians are team physician for the Houston Astros, Dynamo and Texans. The hospital also has a physical and occupational therapy center that includes strength training customized to each individual patient. Hand therapy, neurological rehabilitation and lymphedema management are also available.

Methodist Hospital of Sacramento (Calif.). Methodist Hospital is a full-service community hospital that was founded in 1973 and has since grown to affiliate with Mercy Healthcare Sacramento. It is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, designated by Blue Shield of California. The surgeons at the hospital focus on joint replacement, spine surgery and sports medicine. The surgeons are able to stay on the cutting edge by performing a minimally invasive partial knee replacement procedure with The Oxford Knee or the Opus Magnum minimally invasive procedure for rotator cuff tears. The department also includes hand and foot surgery specialists and outpatient rehabilitation centers designed for patients with extremities injuries and conditions.  

Mission Hospital (Asheville, N.C.). Formed through a partnership between St. Joseph's Hospital and Memorial Mission Medical Center in 1996, Mission Hospital is an 800-bed hospital with a freestanding outpatient surgery center. The hospital's inpatient orthopedic unit includes 42 beds and operating suites with advanced technology. Orthopedic services at Mission Hospital use a multidisciplinary approach to caring for patients. Orthopedic surgeons at the hospital perform around 2,400 total hip and knee replacements every year. The hospital received HealthGrades awards for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement in 2012.

Mississippi Baptist Medical Center (Jackson.). Baptist Medical Center began in 1908 as a clinic run by two Jackson physicians. Three years later, the Mississippi Baptist Convention bought the property and formed Mississippi Baptist Hospital. It's since grown to include a 564-bed medical center offering a variety of medical services. Baptist Medical physicians perform more than 1,100 replacement surgeries annually at the hospital. The medical center received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement. Mississippi Baptist's joint program includes a joint care coordinator who assists patients in the transition from surgery to hospital to home.

Munson Medical Center (Traverse City, Mich.). Munson Medical Center was the first general hospital in Northern Michigan after James Decker Munson, MD, a well-known humanitarian and neurologist, donated a boarding house for use as a hospital in 1915. The 391-bed, Magnet-designated hospital is one of the largest in its region. Orthopedic physicians at Munson Medical Center perform more than 1,900 inpatient procedures and more than 3,900 outpatient procedures every year. A multidisciplinary team of surgeons and support staff deliver a continuum of care to patients. Orthopedic services provided include adult joint replacement surgery, arthritis care, microsurgery, minimally invasive knee surgery, reconstructive and arthroscopic surgery, scoliosis treatment, sports medicine and foot, hand and spine surgery, among other procedures.

Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital (Omaha). Founded in 2004, the physician-owned 24-bed Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital was the first in its region dedicated to complete care and treatment of orthopedic patients. Orthopedic surgeons specialize in foot and ankle, hand and upper extremity, joint replacement, spine care and sports medicine. Surgeons at the hospital performed nearly 6,000 outpatient surgeries and 1,500 inpatient surgeries in 2011. The hospital received a high-performing award for orthopedics from U.S. News & World Report in 2011-12.

New England Baptist Hospital (Boston). Physicians at New England Baptist Hospital take the team approach to providing patient care in collaboration with ancillary specialists at the hospital. The hospital is affiliated with Tufts University School of Medicine and provides teaching programs in collaboration with the Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard School of Medicine. Orthopedic services include extremities care, arthritis treatment, and sports medicine and spine surgery services. Also, physicians serve as the team physicians for the Boston Celtics, World Cup soccer and Olympic athletes.

New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell (New York City). New York Hospital merged with The Presbyterian Hospital in 1998 to create the current facility, which includes more than 2,200 patient beds. Orthopedic specialists at New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell focus on bone disease and tumors, extremities care, joint replacement, sports medicine, spine and trauma care and less invasive procedures, including arthroscopy. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 20 in the nation for orthopedics in 2011-12.

North Mississippi Medical Center (Tupelo). North Mississippi Medical Center is a 650-bed hospital, the largest in Mississippi and largest non-metropolitan hospital in the United States. It serves nearly 750,000 people in 24 counties in Mississippi, northwest Alabama and parts of Tennessee. The hospital's Joint Replacement Center focuses on hip and knee replacement patients, taking an approach to care centered on patient education and rehabilitation. Orthopedic surgeons perform around 750 total hip and knee replacements at the medical center with an average patient length of stay under three days, well under the state average. The medical center received a HealthGrades award in 2012 for excellence in both joint replacement and orthopedic surgery.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago).
Northwestern Memorial was established in 1972 after a consolidation of Chicago's Passavant Memorial and Wesley Memorial. The department of orthopedic surgery also treats patients with arthritis, extremity deformities, knee injuries and sports medicine needs. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 20 in the nation for orthopedics in 2011. The hospital is among a handful in the nation designated by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research as a Model System of Care for spinal cord injury. Northwestern Memorial includes the Acute Spinal Cord Injury Center and operates in partnership with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, which are both part of the Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System.

Ochsner Medical Center (New Orleans).
Ochsner Medical Center is a 437-bed hospital that opened in 1985. The orthopedic surgery department's services include spine, oncology, sports medicine, joint replacement, pediatric and extremities care. Surgeons at the hospital perform more than 300 joint replacements every year in special operating rooms designated for the procedure. Fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians are able to perform arthroscopic surgery and provide coverage for the New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Hornets and New Orleans Voodoo arena football team.  

Oklahoma Surgical Hospital (Tulsa, Okla.). In 2001, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and anesthesiologists joined together to open the Orthopedic Hospital of Oklahoma on the site of a hospital complex formerly operated by Oral Roberts University. Physician leaders of the orthopedic hospital changed its name in 2007 to the Oklahoma Surgical Hospital in an effort to reflect the growing number of surgical procedures offered. The 76-bed hospital currently offers orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery and general surgical procedures. It received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for spine surgery excellence and patient safety.  

Parkview Hospital (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Parkview Orthopedic Hospital is a physician-owned facility that opened in 2007. The surgeons perform a range of orthopedic and spine procedures, including total hip and knee replacements, minimally invasive spine surgery and foot and ankle reconstruction procedures. For patients who need surgery, the hospital uses a program called "Club Ortho" to guide them along the care process — more than 8,500 patients and family members have participated in the program. The hospital received a HealthGrades award for excellence in orthopedic surgery in 2012. It's also a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center.
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was founded when the M.S. Hershey Foundation offered Penn State University $50 million in 1963 to establish a medical school and hospital. The Penn State Hershey Bone and Joint Institute allows for collaboration between specialists in orthopedics, sports medicine, spinal disorders, hand surgery and chronic pain management. The institute also includes researchers studying a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. The medical center received HealthGrades awards for excellence in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement in 2012.

Piedmont Hospital (Atlanta). Founded in 1905, the 529-bed Piedmont Hospital is dedicated to offering individual care with innovative technology. Orthopedic surgeons at Piedmont perform more orthopedic procedures than any other hospital in Georgia. Surgeons at the hospital's Reconstructive Joint Center perform more than 1,000 total joint replacement procedures annually. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both joint replacement and orthopedic surgery. Besides joint replacement, orthopedic surgeons at the hospital specialize in hand and microsurgery, shoulder and elbow surgery, spine surgery, foot and ankle surgery, pediatric orthopedics and rehabilitation.

Providence Medical Center (Kansas City, Mo.). Providence Medical Center was founded in 1918 when the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth were asked to manage a new hospital in Kansas City. Providence Hospital officially opened two years later and included an orthopedic ward. In 2003, the Providence Joint Center opened, offering free joint pain seminars and a multidisciplinary approach to joint replacement surgery. The Providence Spine Center also takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating back and neck problems. Patients who undergo spine surgery at Providence have significantly shorter hospital stays following surgery compared to the national average. The hospital received HealthGrades awards for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement in 2012.

Riverside Medical Center (Kankakee, Ill.). Riverside Medical Center, which was founded in 1964, and Oak Orthopedic Associates in Bradley, Ill., partnered to create Total Joint Resources, a program to help patients through the pre-, peri- and postsurgical process. The hospital includes an accredited rehabilitation unit for orthopedic patients. Surgeons at the hospital employ cutting-edge techniques for surgical intervention, including anterior hip replacements. The orthopedic department also includes an orthopedic consultant for the Chicago Bears and a team physician for U.S. Soccer. The surgeons also pursue research and have published articles in professional journals, including The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery and The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Rogue Valley Medical Center (Medford, Ore.). Founded in 1958, Rogue Valley Medical Center is a 378-bed nationally recognized medical facility. Rogue Valley's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center is a partnership between Rogue Valley Medical Center and Southern Oregon Orthopedics. Orthopedic surgeons at the center specialize in hip and knee joint replacements, performing more than 1,100 total joint and hip replacements each year. The medical center received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles). Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center includes 520 inpatient beds and 61 beds for short-term hospitalizations. The physicians often find themselves at the cutting edge of orthopedics, performing innovative procedures such as hand transplants. The hospital also offers the Bone Disease and Osteoporosis Center, which has comprehensive evaluation and care for patients with osteoporosis or other metabolic bone disorders. Hospital physicians treat UCLA athletic teams, and UCLA Health System is also the official health system of the Los Angeles Lakers. The medical center was ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 20 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2011-12.

Roper Hospital (Charleston, S.C.).
A member of Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Roper Hospital is a 368-bed acute-care facility. Orthopedic specialists include experts in the fields of total joint replacement, spine surgery, hand surgery, foot and ankle surgery, shoulder and elbow surgery and sports medicine. Roper Hospital also offers outpatient rehabilitation services. It received a HealthGrades award in 2012 for excellence in joint replacement. Additionally, Roper Hospital is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, designated by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

Rush University Medical Center (Chicago).
The 676-bed Rush University Medical Center was founded more than 170 years ago. The orthopedic and spine department includes many of the physicians from Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, who are the team physicians for the Chicago Bulls and White Sox. Rush's orthopedic surgeons are pioneers in their field, performing minimally invasive joint replacements and spine surgeries. They were among the first to implant a "growing prosthesis" for children with bone cancer. Services at Rush include orthopedic trauma, oncology, sports medicine, women's sports medicine, spine care, pediatric orthopedics and joint replacement. The hospital also has its Cartilage Restoration Center, where surgeons research cartilage repair techniques.

Saint Anthony's Memorial Hospital (Effingham, Ill.).
Founded in 1875, St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital has provided care to its community for more than a century. Since 2000, the hospital has built an orthopedic department that includes joint replacement, extremities care and spine care. Peter Bonutti, MD, performed the hospital's first live satellite broadcast while performing a minimally invasive total knee replacement, which was viewed by an international audience. The hospital now includes a floor dedicated to private patient rooms and a physical therapy area for orthopedic patients, and received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Saint Francis Hospital (Tulsa, Okla.). Saint Francis Hospital has its roots in Warren Petroleum. The owner of the company, William Warren, and his wife Natalie raised the capital to build a 275-bed hospital. It's now a 918-bed facility offering a wide range of medical care, including treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic services provided at the hospital include treatment of cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral disorders of the spine. Specialists provide total joint replacement, sports medicine, fusions, spine surgery, foot and ankle surgery and other treatments. Orthopedic surgeons at St. Francis perform around 3,000 orthopedic procedures annually. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Saint Francis Medical Center (Cape Girardeau, Mo.).
The Thomas G. Otto, MD, Orthopedic Institute at Saint Francis Medical Center earned top honors from HealthGrades in 2012, including the Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award and the Joint Replacement Excellence Award, and was ranked in the top 5 percent nationally for overall orthopedic services and for joint replacement. The 280-bed medical center also ranked best for overall excellence in joint replacement surgery and number one for its joint replacement center by Marshall | Steele. Saint Francis has been performing total joint replacements since 1972, with ongoing program enhancement. In 2007, the medical center introduced a new approach to joint replacement with the Center for Joint Replacement & Revision.

Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (Mishawaka, Ind.). Originally founded in 1882 in South Bend, Ind., by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center is now a multi-hospital health system with a flagship 254-bed hospital. Orthopedic physicians at Saint Joseph utilize minimally invasive techniques and offer partial joint replacements, total knee and hip replacements, hip fracture repairs and back and neck fusions. The hospital was one of the first in Indiana to offer robotic-assisted hip and knee joint replacement surgery. It received a HealthGrades award for excellence in orthopedic surgery in 2012.

Saint Vincent Health Center (Erie, Pa.).
Founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 1875, Saint Vincent Health is an integrated health system. Saint Vincent's orthopedics department offers inpatient and outpatient services. The hospital is also engaged with its community, as its Total Joint Center offers free joint seminars. Saint Vincent received a HealthGrades award in 2012 for excellence in orthopedic surgery. Also, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has named Saint Vincent a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

Scripps Green Hospital (La Jolla, Calif.).
Founded in 1977, Scripps Green Hospital is connected to the 173-bed Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines that provides more than 50 medical and surgical specialties. Orthopedic services include hand and elbow reconstruction, joint replacement, foot and ankle care, shoulder surgery, spine surgery and sports medicine. Sports medicine physicians work with the San Diego Padres and United States Olympic Training Center as well as local high schools. The physicians also emphasize research, which is conducted through the hospital's Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education. Scripps Green received awards from HealthGrades in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Sibley Memorial Hospital (Washington, D.C.). Dating back to 1890, Sibley Memorial is now a 328-bed full-service community hospital in the nation's capital. Over 3,000 arthroscopic surgeries are performed at Sibley each year. Additionally, orthopedic surgeons utilize high-definition video technology, robotics and minimally invasive surgical techniques during surgery. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor (Ypsilanti, Mich.).
Saint Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor is the flagship for Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, a seven-hospital system in southeastern Michigan. Orthopedic surgeons perform more than 8,000 surgeries each year at the hospital. The hospital offers a full range of orthopedic procedures, including total joint replacement and reconstruction. It received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement. Additionally, the hospital offers sports medicine and rehabilitation services.

St. Joseph Regional Health Center (Bryan, Texas). St. Joseph Regional traces its roots to Bryan Hospital, a three-story brick building with 25-beds that opened in 1913. In 1935 the Sisters of St. Francis took over management of the hospital and purchased the building a year later, renaming it St. Joseph Hospital. The hospital is now a 611-bed facility offering a continuum of healthcare services, including a Joint University. St. Joseph received HealthGrades awards for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement in 2012. It's also a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

St. Vincent Medical Center (Los Angeles).
The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul established the hospital in 1856, the first hospital in Los Angeles. In 1974, the hospital changed its name to St. Vincent Medical Center. To treat patients with orthopedic and spine issues, the hospital has the St. Vincent Orthopaedic Institute, the Joint Replacement Institute and the St. Vincent Spine Institute. Spine orthopedists and neurosurgeons at St. Vincent use minimally invasive techniques and image-guided technology. The medical center received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Stanford Hospital & Clinics (Palo Alto, Calif.). Orthopedic services at Stanford University Hospitals & Clinics include arthritis and joint replacement, extremities care, musculoskeletal tumors, spine, sports medicine and trauma. The hospital includes equipment to perform minimally invasive and computer-assisted surgery for arthritic disorders of the hip, knee and shoulder. Spine surgeons are also able to provide minimally invasive procedures, percutaneous surgical techniques, total disc replacement and fracture stabilization. The hospitals' physicians include the head team orthopedist for Stanford University Football and team physicians for the San Francisco 49ers, U.S. Ski Team and the Golden State Warriors.

Texas Orthopedic Hospital (Houston). Texas Orthopedic Hospital opened in 1995 and is partnered with Fondren Orthopedic Group, one of the largest orthopedic physician groups in the city. Services include orthopedic trauma, joint replacement, spine surgery and sports medicine. In addition to inpatient and outpatient surgery, the hospital includes rehabilitation, aquatic therapy, diagnostic imaging and a spinal diagnostic and treatment center. Surgeons in the spine center focus on minimally invasive procedures for treating back pain. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 50 in the nation for orthopedics in 2011-12.

Texas Spine and Joint Hospital (Tyler). Texas Spine & Joint is a physician-owned orthopedic hospital with 20 beds. It recently underwent a $22 million renovation to update patient rooms and add more clinical space. The hospital offers joint replacement, spine surgery, sports medicine and pain management. HealthGrades recognized the hospital for excellence in spine surgery in 2011. Texas Spine & Joint received a five-star HealthGrades rating for total hip replacements in 2012; the average length of stay for total hip replacements at the hospital is three days, nearly a day under the state average.

The Washington (Pa.) Hospital.
Founded in 1897, The Washington Hospital started in a farmhouse in southwestern Pennsylvania and now offers a variety of medical services. Its Center for Orthopedics and Neurosciences offers comprehensive services under the direction of specially trained physicians. Orthopedic surgeons at the hospital perform more than 700 total hip and knee replacement procedures every year. The hospital received HealthGrades awards for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement in 2012.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Philadelphia). Established in 1825, Thomas Jefferson Hospital has an orthopedic surgery department that includes 50 board-certified physicians. Services include hip and knee, shoulder and elbow, foot and ankle, hand and wrist, spine and sports medicine care. There are approximately 1,000 cases of spinal injury treated at the hospital annually and the surgeons are at the forefront of minimally invasive surgical techniques. The hospital's joint replacement program services more than 6,500 patients annually. Physicians at the hospital are team physicians for the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phillies. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 15 for orthopedics in the nation in 2011-12.

Tulsa (Okla.) Spine & Specialty Hospital.
Founded in 2002, the Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital specializes in spine surgery, orthopedics, pain management, general and plastic surgery, ophthalmology and gynecology. The hospital has the da Vinci system, which assists surgeons in minimally invasive surgical procedures. Tulsa Spine & Specialty has received several recognitions, including a spine surgery excellence award from HealthGrades in 2012.

UC San Diego Medical Center.
UC San Diego Medical Center traces its roots back to 1962 when University of California Regents approved a new medical school for the San Diego campus. The center, opened in 1966, is a 386-bed facility. U.S. News & World Report ranked the orthopedic surgery department among the top 50 in the nation in 2011-12. Orthopedic and spine surgeons offer both advanced surgical and nonsurgical treatments and, when possible, use minimally invasive surgical techniques. UC San Diego Medical Center also offers physical, rehabilitative and sports medicine.

UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco). Ranked among the top 25 in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2011-12, UCSF Medical Center is the second largest recipient nationwide of grants from the National Institutes of Health. UCSF Medical Center includes a number of clinics within its Orthopaedic Institute, including centers for arthritis, joint replacement, cartilage repair and regeneration and dance medicine, among other subspecialty clinics. Additionally, UCSF's spine center is one of the largest of its kind in the country; more than 10,000 patients are treated at the center every year.

University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Cleveland).
The 1,032-bed University Hospitals Case Medical Center is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The surgeons focus on adult and pediatric extremities care, joint preservation, cartilage restoration, spine care, sports medicine, total joint replacement and orthopedic oncology. The physicians also have a focus on research and have been supported by the National Institutes of Health. Past research projects include working on cartilage and bone-cell biology, tissue engineering, biomechanics and functional electrical stimulation. Spine surgeons are able to perform minimally invasive surgical techniques and care for patients with traumatic and degenerative disorders. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 20 in the country for orthopedics in 2011-12.

University of California, Davis Medical Center (Sacramento). UC Davis Medical Center is a 619-bed teaching hospital serving patients across 33 counties. UC Davis was ranked among the top 50 hospitals for orthopedics in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2011-12. The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, which was founded in 1969, provides comprehensive medical and surgical care for people of all ages and focuses on specialties including foot and ankle, adult reconstruction, hand, upper extremity and microvascular, pediatric orthopedics, spinal disorders, oncology, trauma and sports medicine.

University of Chicago Medical Center. The University of Chicago Medical Center is home to some of the most advanced care and medicine. U.S. News & World Report ranked the medical center among the top 50 hospitals for orthopedics in 2011-12. Orthopedic surgeons at the University of Chicago Medical Center specialize in joint replacement, scoliosis, bone cancers, foot and ankle and sports medicine, among other areas. More than 15 orthopedic surgeons provide a multidisciplinary approach to patient treatment. Several members of the faculty at the medical center have been instrumental in developing new models for prostheses used for joint replacement.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City).
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is the state's only comprehensive medical center and regional referral center. The hospital's orthopedic services include extremities care, spine surgery, joint replacement and sports medicine. The orthopedic department sees more than 50,000 patients in its clinics each year and performs more than 5,000 orthopedic procedures annually. In addition to ranking among the top hospitals for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2011-12, the hospital was also named among the top in the nation in orthopedic care for children by the publication. The hospital is home to the immediate past president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, John Callaghan, MD.

University of Maryland Medical Center (Baltimore).
Within the Baltimore area, Maryland and the country as a whole, the University of Maryland Medical Center has made a lasting imprint in how it delivers quality care. The orthopedics program was ranked among the top 50 in the nation in 2011-12, according to U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, Blue Cross Blue Shield recognized the orthopedics program as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. Orthopedic specialties at UMMC include foot and ankle, hand, knee, orthopedic oncology, total joint replacement and spine, among others.

University Hospital (Ann Arbor, Mich.). University Hospital, part of the University of Michigan Health System, is one of the top hospitals in the Detroit metro area and the first university-owned medical facility in the United States. The University of Michigan's orthopedic surgery training program was ranked among the top 40 in the nation in 2011-12, according to U.S. News & World Report. The orthopedics department comprises nearly 30 faculty members with a broad range of clinical interests. The department of orthopedic surgery saw 44,000 outpatient clinic visits and performed 4,700 operations in 2011.

University of Minnesota Medical Center (Minneapolis).
The teaching hospital of the University of Minnesota Medical School, this 1,700-bed hospital has been home to many medical milestones, such as the world's first open heart surgery in 1952. The Orthopaedic Clinic at the University of Minnesota Medical Center supports subspecialties such as rheumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, family medicine and sports medicine. The medical center offers total joint replacement, Tommy John elbow reconstruction and minimally invasive spine surgery, among other services.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian.
UPMC Presbyterian, the hospital that would become UPMC's flagship, was founded in 1893, and the orthopedic surgery department is more than 100 years old. In May 2009, UPMC physicians performed the first double hand transplant. Research is critical to UPMC, which includes the Stem Cell Research Laboratory and the Orthopaedic BioDynamics Laboratory. Physicians in the orthopedics department work with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins, and the UPMC facilities include a sports training center.

University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle).
This 450-bed hospital opened in 1959 as one of the nation's smallest teaching hospitals. Today, the University of Washington Medical Center provides orthopedic, spine and sports medicine along with women's sports medicine care. In addition to providing clinical care, the physicians are also focused on research and have access to the Orthopaedic Science Lab. Current research includes studies on the various approaches to revision total hip arthroplasty and associated complication and re-infection rates.

Valley Baptist Medical Center (Harlingen, Texas).
Valley Baptist's board-certified orthopedic surgeons and specialists seek to use advanced technology and techniques. Valley Baptist is ranked as one of the best hospitals in Texas providing orthopedic services, according to HealthGrades. Orthopedic surgeons perform more than 800 total hip and knee replacements at Valley Baptist Medical Center every year. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in both orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.

Valley Hospital (Ridgewood, N.J.). Physicians at the 451-bed Valley Hospital have provided joint replacement services for several decades — the first joint replacement was performed at the hospital in 1972. The hospital received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement. In addition to joint replacement surgery, Valley Hospital offers hip resurfacing, total ankle replacements, pain management services and a case manager to help patients going through joint replacement surgeries.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.).
Vanderbilt Orthopaedics treats more than 110,000 patients every year in Nashville and several other locations in Tennessee and Kentucky. Vanderbilt Medical Center includes a bone and joint clinic and a sports concussion center. The team of physicians at Vanderbilt is also the official sports medicine provider for the NHL's Nashville Predators, NCAA's Vanderbilt Commodores, NCAA's Belmont Bruins and Triple A baseball team, the Nashville Sounds. U.S. News & World Report ranked the medical center among the top 50 hospitals for orthopedics in 2011-12.

Venice (Fla.) Regional Medical Center. Founded in 1951, Venice Regional Medical Center is a 312-bed regional medical center. The orthopedics and neurosurgery specialty unit at Venice Regional includes 27 private rooms and rehabilitation services. Venice Regional orthopedic surgeons also, in some cases, utilize MAKOplasty, a robotically assisted minimally invasive partial knee replacement surgery technique. Orthopedic surgeons at Venice perform more than 1,200 total hip and knee replacement surgeries annually; additionally, patients stay at the hospital for half a day shorter than the national average for both hip and knee replacement surgeries. The medical center received HealthGrades awards in 2012 for excellence in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.


Correction:
Bon Secours Hospital, part of the Roper Healthcare System in Charleston, S.C., initially appeared on the list as Bon Secours St. Francis Health System. The list has been updated to reflect the flagship hospital in the system, Roper Hospital in Charleston, S.C. We apologize for this error.

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