FORT LAUDERDALE  -- More than 100 members of the medical and administrative staff of Florida Medical Center gathered recently to celebrate and receive the hospital's latest honors from HealthGrades (Nasdaq: HGRD), the leading independent healthcare ratings company. 

According to the Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study issued in October, Florida Medical Center ranks among the top 10 percent in the nation for pulmonary care for the second year in a row. 

As a result, the hospital was awarded the HealthGrades Pulmonary Care Excellence Awardª for 2008, marking the second consecutive year that Florida Medial Center has received this distinction. "We are extremely proud of our ranking among the top hospitals in the country in pulmonary care and our five-star ratings for our other medical services," said hospital CEO Bob Haley.  "The recognition from HealthGrades reflects our commitment to providing advanced medical care of the highest caliber for all of the hospital;s patients."

The Tenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study analyzed patient outcomes at virtually all of the nation's 5,000 hospitals over the years 2004, 2005 and 2006.  HealthGrades researchers analyzed Medicare discharges by using risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates to calculate whether hospitals earned a 1-star (poor), 3-star (as expected), or 5-star (best) quality rating for 28 diagnoses and procedures.  

The study also found that in 2008, Florida Medical Center is:

• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Heart Attack
• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Heart Failure
• Five-Star Rated for Hip Fracture Repair
• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Stroke
• Five-Star Rated for Overall Pulmonary Services
• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Pneumonia
• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of GI Bleed
• Five-Star Rated for Treatment of Sepsis 

Health Grades, Inc. is the leading healthcare ratings organization, providing ratings and profiles of hospitals, nursing homes and physicians.  Millions of consumers and many of the nation's largest employers, health plans and hospitals rely on HealthGrades' independent ratings, advisory services and decision-support resources to make healthcare decisions based on the quality and cost of care.  More information on the company can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

Florida Medical Center, part of Tenet's Miami-Dade/Broward Health Network, is a 459-bed acute care hospital founded in 1973 and fully accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  Located at 5000 West Oakland Park Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale in western Broward County,

Florida Medical Center offers a broad range of medical and surgical services.  Its Heart Institute of Florida, the hospital's center for cardiac services, is designated a Premium Cardiac Specialty Center by UnitedHealthcare. 

FMC's additional services include neurology and neurosurgery, cancer care, orthopedics, urology, psychiatry, gynecology, imaging, pain center, sleep lab, wound care, and 24-hour emergency services.