CLEVELAND – Due to its strong financial performance despite a challenging economic environment, University Hospitals has been able to affirm its bond ratings.

Both Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service made public University Hospitals’ A and A2 ratings, respectively, with a stable outlook. The ratings agencies’ favorable assessments are based on University Hospitals’ (UH) financial and operating performance, and reflect the health system’s continued achievement of budget expectations.

“These ratings, which are based on a thorough review of our operations and financial performance, are a confirmation of University Hospitals’ strong financial position,” says Michael A. Szubski, Chief Financial Officer, UH. “The ratings also reflect our ability to achieve our strategic objectives and maintain market share in a competitive health care environment.”

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals Case Medical Center is ranked prominently among the top hospitals in the country in six specialties in U.S. News & World Report’s latest hospital rankings. The hospital joins an elite group of 174 hospitals – less than three percent - out of nearly 5,000 hospitals nationwide to be named to the magazine’s annual “America’s Best Hospitals” edition.

UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital also ranked second in the nation for newborn care and on eight out of ten pediatrics specialties in the issue. These “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings were published online last month by U.S. News.

CLEVELAND – A new study identifies a group of individuals at increased risk for developing colon cancer and holds the promise for developing new tailored cancer treatments. The study in this week’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is by Sanford Markowitz, M.D., Ph.D., the Markowitz-Ingalls Professor of Cancer Genetics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and oncologist at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and colleagues. 

“The bottom line is that we have found an uncommon but potentially important group of individuals who are born with certain genetic mutations and are at increased risk for developing colon cancer,” says Dr. Markowitz, who is also an investigator in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. “This is yet another step towards identifying who is at increased risk for this deadly form of cancer and it may potentially allow us a greater ability to detect and treat, as well as develop therapies, for cancer.”

CLEVELAND – James J. Benedict Jr., has been appointed President of the University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center. The new health care campus, which includes both a hospital and medical office building, is under construction at Chagrin Highlands in Beachwood and scheduled to open in early 2011. 
 

In his new role, Mr. Benedict will be responsible for assembling and leading a team to achieve the University Hospitals vision for providing Cleveland’s eastern and southeastern suburban population with enhanced access to advanced medical, surgical and emergency services.  He currently oversees the overall operational planning for the $230.5 million health care campus.

 “Since joining University Hospitals, Jim has played a vital role in the dramatic growth and financial success of our health system,” said Achilles Demetriou, MD, PhD, President, University Hospitals. “The UH Ahuja Medical Center will provide state-of-the-art health care services for our patients in the surrounding communities and will flourish under Jim’s leadership.”