Northwestern Memorial Hospital generally outperforms UCLA Medical Center based on overall rating, specialty rankings, and mortality rates. However, UCLA Medical Center has high patient satisfaction in Los Angeles and accepts a wider range of insurance plans. The choice depends on individual needs, priorities, and location.
| Attribute | UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA) | Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago, IL) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Hospital Rating | 4-star rating from CMS | 5-star rating from CMS |
| Specialty Rankings | Cancer: Ranked 4th in the U.S., top in California and Los Angeles; Cardiology: Ranked 18th in the U.S. | Ranked #1 (tie) in Illinois and metropolitan Chicago; Nationally ranked in 11 clinical specialties; Top 10 in eight specialties including Cardiology and Heart & Vascular Surgery (#7), Diabetes and Endocrinology (#7), Gastroenterology and GI Surgery (#10), Geriatrics (#9), Neurology and Neurosurgery (#6), Obstetrics and Gynecology (#6), Pulmonology and Lung Surgery (#7), and Urology (#10); Cancer: Ranked #6 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2021-2022. Ranked #9 in the nation in 2022-2023. Ranked #17 nationally. Ranked #20 nationally; Ear, Nose, and Throat: Ranked #26 nationally. Ranked #16 nationally; Orthopedics: Ranked #15 nationally. Ranked #11 nationally |
| Patient Satisfaction Scores | Top hospital in Los Angeles for patient satisfaction; Top 15% in the nation for patient experience | Patient experience rating is 15% higher than the national average |
| Readmission Rates | 27.43% (October 2016 to August 2019) | Readmission rates for COPD patients: 18.9%; Readmission rate for heart attack patients: 13.2%; Readmission rate for heart failure patients: 18.7%; Readmission rate for pneumonia patients: 17.7% |
| Mortality Rates | Not available | Death rate for COPD patients: 7.5%; Death rate for heart attack patients: 9.9%; Death rate for heart failure patients: 5%; Death rate for pneumonia patients: 10.5%; Death rate for stroke patients: 10.5% |
| Availability of Advanced Technologies | da Vinci surgical system for robotic surgeries | Offers robotic surgery |
| Emergency Room Wait Times | Not available | Average time from ED arrival to departure for discharged patients: 340 minutes |
| Hospital Affiliations and Network | Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center (Santa Monica), Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, UCLA Medical Group; Affiliated with University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System | Part of Northwestern Medicine, which includes multiple hospitals and care centers |
| Insurance Coverage Accepted | HMO, PPO, Medicare Advantage, Medicare, Medi-Cal, Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, Health Net of California | Accepts a variety of insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Medicare, and Medicaid |
| Availability of Specific Services | Certified Level I trauma center (adult and pediatric), UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital | Certified as a Level I Trauma Center and Stroke Center; Offers a range of services, including cancer care, cardiology, and organ transplantation |
| Distance and Accessibility | Westwood, Los Angeles, California | Located at 251 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611 |