(Courtesy/Washington Regional Medical Center)

Washington Regional Medical Center was named as the best hospital in Arkansas for the second consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report in its latest Best Hospitals list.

The report evaluated 102 hospitals in the state, and designated Washington Regional as a high performing facility in nine adult procedures and conditions. Washington Regional was also ranked as the best hospital in the Ozarks Region for a fourth consecutive year.

The annual rankings are designed to help patients decide where to receive care, according to the publication.

“Washington Regional has long been the region’s leading health care system,” said Larry Shackelford, president and CEO of the hospital. “Now, for a second year, these national rankings prove we are also leading the state in high performing care.”

Shackelford said it has always been the hospital’s vision to be both the best place for patients to receive care, and the best place for its team members to provide that care.

“This recognition demonstrates our commitment to improving the health of people in the communities we serve and highlights the outstanding dedication of our medical, nursing and support staff team members,” Shackelford said.

A high performing designation indicates a hospital performed better than the national average in a given procedure or condition, according to a news release. The publication recognized Washington Regional as a high performing hospital for:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Hip replacement
• Kidney failure
• Knee replacement
• Lung cancer surgery
• Stroke
• Uterine cancer surgery

Other Arkansas hospitals to receive a high performing designation include Little Rock’s Baptist Health Medical Center and CHI St. Vincent Infirmary.