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For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Steve Linders, 612-863-4801

Abbott Northwestern named one of 'America's Best Hospitals' by U.S.News & World Report

MINNEAPOLIS 07/13/2007--U.S.News & World Report today released its annual list of what it considers "America's Best Hospitals." Once again, Abbott Northwestern Hospital made the cut, ranking in eight of 12 areas where hospital ability is measured by reputation, mortality data and other care-related factors:

• #28 in heart and heart surgery
• #22 in neurology and neurosurgery
• #27 in orthopedics
• #43 in cancer
• #23 in endocrinology
• #43 in geriatrics
• #48 in gynecology
• #33 in digestive disorders

This is the 18th year U.S.News & World Report has published the list, which identifies hospitals that excel at treating serious illnesses using complex procedures and the latest technology. Only 173 of the 5,462 facilities evaluated met the standards for excellence, according to Avery Comarow, editor of the "Best Hospitals" annual rankings.

"Most that did are referral centers, accustomed to seeing the toughest patients and conducting bench-to-bedside research that advances the state of the art," Comarow wrote.

"These rankings are a testament to our talented, dedicated physicians and employees, who deliver exceptional care to every patient, regardless of how complex or serious their condition," said Jeff Peterson, Abbott Northwestern's president. "Our employees work hard to build our reputation as one of the country's best hospitals, so it is nice to see their work recognized."

To be considered, a hospital must be a member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals, be affiliated with a medical school or have at least six of 13 advanced services such as image-guided radiation therapy and robotic surgery.

Each specialty has its own eligibility requirements. A hospital either had to have seen a specified minimum number of Medicare inpatients during 2003, 2004 and 2005 who had certain conditions or underwent certain procedures, or the hospital had to be named among the best in the specialty by at least one physician in the latest three annual surveys. Hospitals that met the initial criteria then received a score combining three equally weighted elements: reputation, mortality and a group of care-related factors such as nursing and advanced services.

The score is based on:

• Reputation: as rated by board-certified physicians who were randomly selected and asked to list the five hospitals they feel are best in their specialty for difficult cases, without consideration of cost or location.
• Mortality: comparing the number of deaths of Medicare patients with specified conditions in 2003, 2004 and 2005 with the number expected.
• Other care-related factors: which depends on such quality-of-care measures as nurse-to-patient ratio and the number of key technologies available.

More information about "America's Best Hospitals" is available by visiting www.usnews.com.

About Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Minneapolis-based Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health care services. Abbott Northwestern is found online at www.abbottnorthwestern.com.