Where are the best hospitals in the United States?

While there are more than 6,000 hospitals in the country, some are more highly regarded than others. That being said, the greatest hospitals in the country aren't concentrated on one coast or even in the center of the nation. Instead, they're sprinkled throughout the country, located in areas as varied as Moyock, North Carolina; Brigham, Utah; or New York City. While there's some consensus on what hospital can take the crown as America's best, there are many options to choose from should you need specialty care.

Specialists in Your Area

Whether you live in New Haven, New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, here are some doctors with adult specialties. Their methodology will be able to help you get the care you need from some of the top hospitals in your area, no matter what specialty you're looking for.

Best Hospitals in the US

Picking the right health care provider can have a major impact on the medical care that you receive. Particularly if you're looking for specialty care for a particular condition, it might be worthwhile to look at a hospital in a city near you if the care you'll receive is demonstrably better. For example, you may want to seek a women's hospital outside of Los Angeles but close-by if you're getting a hysterectomy, since some adult specialties and cases are better served where expert doctors practice. Some places serve as a research or teaching hospital, which can positively affect your prospects for certain procedures.

Every year, U.S. News and World Report gives their rankings of the top hospitals in the country. Both the Mayo Clinic and U.S. News have built reputations for themselves as well-respected in the field of medicine, ensuring the clinicians at each medical center are able to better serve you. In their search for America's best hospital, U.S. News ranked a variety of hospitals on different axes. Here's a quick rundown of the best hospitals in the country to help you inform your decision. Keep in mind that this information is based on statistics from the last year, and that U.S. News also creates an honor roll for high-performing hospitals based on a variety of domains ranging from pediatric specialties to adult specialties.

1. The  Mayo Clinic

If one hospital on this list was given the title of “America's best hospital,” it would undoubtedly be the Mayo Clinic. Originally established in Rochester, MN, the Mayo Clinic hospital group has grown to serve several other regions of America, including Wisconsin and Iowa, as well as a Phoenix-based clinic. U.S. News ranks the Mayo Clinic nationally in terms of 15 different adult specialties, making it one of the best hospitals in the country.

2. The Cleveland Clinic

The Cleveland Clinic is another top performer on U.S. News' annual list. Ranking highly for more than 10 pediatric specialties and adult specialties, the Cleveland Clinic is one of the best hospitals in Ohio and the country at large. Particularly for heart-based treatments, it's hard to beat the clinicians at the Cleveland Clinic.

3. Johns Hopkins Hospital

Located in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins Hospital exemplifies why a teaching hospital can often provide such great treatment. One of U.S. News' consistent top performers, Johns Hopkins is a leader in a variety of fields and can claim many medical firsts including the development of insulin.

4. Massachusetts General Hospital

Another east coast hospital that tops U.S. News' list is Massachusetts General Hospital, which is known for its connections to Harvard University. It is one of the largest research programs in the country and is home to a host of specialty facilities including a fertility center.

5. University of Michigan Hospitals-Michigan Medicine

The University of Michigan Hospitals-Michigan Medicine is yet another top five choice according to U.S. News. Known for paving the way for the first dermatology department of any hospital, Michigan Medicine is located in Ann Arbor and is one of the best healthcare providers in the midwest.

6. UCSF Medical Center

Located in San Francisco, UCSF Medical Center has stayed on U.S. News' list since last year. This teaching hospital is also one of the best choices for exceptional treatment in all of California, an impressive feat for such a large state.

7. UCLA Medical Center

Another Californian hospital, this teaching hospital is a close second to UCSF Medical Center. Located in Los Angeles, UCLA Medical Center also has a US News distinction as a "high performing" hospital for multiple medical procedures.

8. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is one of the top ten hospitals in the country, and for good reason. This hospital has the distinction of performing two of the most complicated heart surgeries more regularly than any other hospital in the nation.

9. Stanford Health Care-Stanford Hospital

A teaching hospital associated with Stanford University, it's no wonder that this is one of the best options for medical care in the nation. Standford Hospital has the honor of being the site of the first successful heart transplant, not to mention the first successful heart and lung transplant.

10. New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell

The best New York Hospital is associated with both Columbia University and Cornell Medical College, making it no wonder that this is one of the best in the country. New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell is also the site where the Pap smear was invented, making it a major boon to women across the country when it comes to cervical cancer screenings.

11. Northwestern Memorial Hospital

This Illinois-based hospital is not too far outside of Chicago and is a frequent top twenty hospital. Noted for its highly-regarded cardiovascular center as well as its cancer research, Northwestern is one of the best options for adult specialty care in the midwest.

12. Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian

The first teaching hospital in all of Pennsylvania as well as Philadelphia, this hospital is one of the best in the country, and certainly the best in Pennsylvania. If you're interested in top care for any kidney treatments, you'll do well to visit any of the hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania.

These are just twelve of the many options in the country for medical treatment. Other frequent honorees on the US News list of nationally-recognized hospitals included Keck Hospital of USC, NYU Langone Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Yale New Haven Hospital. U.S. News highly regards all of these medical centers for their high-performing doctors, success rates with patients, and the ability to offer exceptional care in a variety of medical domains.