Hospitals are one of those things we don't talk too much about, until we need them.
But when the hospital rankings come out by US News and World Report -- is it something the doctors talk about?
"It is, anytime there's recognition or anytime there is a ranking system you're going to talk about it," said orthopedic surgeon Matthew Meunier. The UC San Diego Medical Center doctor says the newest rankings made the rounds.
"You're going to talk about where your college got ranked, you're going to talk about where your team ended up in the Final Four,” Meunier said. “You're going to talk about where your ranking is in the US News and World Report."
The UC San Diego Medical Center was selected as the top regional hospital in the San Diego metro area, with five nationally ranked specialties. Do people outside the hospital notice, hospital administrator Lisa Murphy says yes.
"To be recognized in the media in a national publication like US News & World Report, it has to help," said Murphy.
Scripps La Jolla came in second in the rankings, followed by Scripps Mercy and Sharp Memorial. Doctor Meunier isn't sure that the ranking influences where people go, but says it's nice to get the recognition.
This is the first time US News and World Report has ranked hospitals by metro areas. The rankings are based on things like reputation, medical specialties, nursing ratios and more.
UC Medical Center is a teaching hospital with links to the UC San Diego medical school.
