Both UCLA Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are highly-regarded medical institutions with strengths in various areas. UCLA Medical Center stands out for its top rankings in Los Angeles and California and its consistent presence on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, nationally ranked and with high patient satisfaction scores, provides language interpretation services in over 300 languages and accepts a wide variety of insurance plans. The choice between the two depends on individual needs and preferences, such as location, specific medical specialties, insurance coverage, and desired patient experience.
| Attribute | UCLA Medical Center | NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital Ranking | Ranked #1 in Los Angeles and California by U.S. News & World Report in 2025. Consistently on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll for 36 consecutive years. | Nationally ranked #7 by U.S. News & World Report. Ranked in the top 20 in 14 of 15 specialties in New York. |
| Specialty Focus | Top 10 national rankings in multiple specialties including Ear, Nose, and Throat; Pulmonology and Lung Surgery; Diabetes and Endocrinology; Ophthalmology; Psychiatry; Urology; Geriatrics; Gastroenterology and GI Surgery; Rheumatology; Orthopedics; Cardiology and Heart Surgery; Neurology and Neurosurgery; Oncology. | Nationally ranked in 14 specialties. Top rankings include cardiology and heart surgery (ranked #4 in the nation). Also recognized for high-quality surgical oncology expertise. |
| Availability of Clinical Trials | Offers various research initiatives and clinical trials. | Clinical trials are available, conducted by physicians through Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. |
| Patient Satisfaction Scores | Recognized for high patient satisfaction. Among the top 15% in the nation for patient experience. Top hospital in Los Angeles for patient satisfaction in 2016 based on HCAHPS survey data. | Overall rating of 89 out of 100. 90 out of 100 patients would recommend the hospital to others. |
| In-Network Insurance Plans | Information needs to be confirmed directly with the medical center or individual insurance providers. | Accepts a wide variety of plans, including Aetna, Affinity by Molina Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, EmblemHealth-HIP, and United Healthcare. Confirmation with insurance company is recommended. |
| Location and Accessibility | Located in Los Angeles, CA (Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica). Parking available, with public transportation options. | Located in New York City, with multiple facilities across the metropolitan area, including Manhattan, Queens, and Westchester County. |
| Advanced Technology and Equipment | Incorporates advanced visual communication technologies, real-time analysis of patient vitals, and explores 3-D printing. | Known for state-of-the-art surgical advances and advanced clinical technologies. |
| Physician Expertise and Credentials | Large faculty, residents, fellows and nursing staff. Many physicians are recognized among the best doctors in America. | Affiliated with Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medicine. Employs more than 6,500 affiliated physicians. |
| Emergency Room Wait Times | Average wait time at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is 5 hours 27 minutes. | Average wait time in the emergency department to hospital admission is 4 hours and 9 minutes. |
| Availability of Language Interpretation Services | Provides language interpretation services in various languages, including Spanish and American Sign Language. | Offers communication assistance free of charge in over 300 languages. |
| Hospital Size and Number of Beds | Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center has 520 inpatient beds. UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital has 131 beds. Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA has 74 beds. UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica has 281 inpatient beds. | Operates over 4,000 beds in total. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has 2,262 beds. NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens has 535 beds. |
| Visiting Hours and Policies | Vary by location. General visiting hours at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visiting hours at UCLA West Valley Medical Center are 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily. | General visiting hours for adult patients are typically between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily. Some locations have open visiting hours. Two visitors at a time are generally permitted. |