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The Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital on the UAMS campus.
U.S. News Rates UAMS in Top 10% Nationally for Orthopaedics
| LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been named in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 Best Hospitals edition as a High Performing hospital for orthopaedics.
Part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals adult specialty ratings, it places UAMS among the top 10% of hospitals in the nation for orthopaedic care. Additionally, UAMS was rated high performing for back surgery (spinal fusion) and hip fractures.
Out of about 4,500 hospitals evaluated for back surgery, only 500 received the “High Performing” designation, which is based on multiple objective data, including patient outcomes and volume.
“Hospitals that earned a high performing rating typically have better patient outcomes compared to other hospitals,” U.S. News said in announcing its findings.
C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., UAMS’ interim chancellor and chair of the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, welcomed the praise.
“Obviously, any outside recognition of quality care is a great thing for our institution,” Barnes said. “Our team is committed to quality and service, which is highlighted by The Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital at UAMS.”
Barnes was referring to the specialty hospital on the UAMS campus that opened in May 2023 and includes more than 158,000 square feet dedicated to comprehensive, specialized care for orthopaedic and spine patients.
U.S. News said that 60% of UAMS’ High Performing rating for back surgery (spinal fusion) was based on how effectively it treats patients and minimizes complications and infections so that the patient can recover at home without additional hospitalization or other rehabilitative care. The other 40% of the score was based on how well patients regarded the quality of their hospital stay, as well as the hospital’s dedication to best practices.
U.S. News rated UAMS “excellent” in the back surgery category for having more nursing care per patient and for having effective nurse communication, and the ratings also gave UAMS high marks for its experience in caring for patients who are 65 and older.
In the hip fracture category, 67.5% of the High Performing designation was based on how effectively the hospital treats patients and minimizes complications, allowing patients to recover at home. The other 32.5% of the score was based on the quality of patients’ hospital stays, the percentage of operations performed by board-certified orthopaedic surgeons, nursing care and communication, and the number of patients 65 and older who were treated for hip fractures.
U.S. News rated UAMS “high performing” in the hip fracture category for ensuring that most hip fracture patients can go home right after surgery, rather than being discharged to another facility. That, according to U.S. News, is “an indication that the patient was well enough to begin recovery at home.”
Meanwhile, the report commended UAMS for having 95-100% of hip-fracture operations performed by board-certified orthopaedic surgeons — “an indication of expertise in this specialty.”
Overall, U.S. News rated UAMS Orthopaedics “excellent” in nurse staffing and communication; use of advanced technologies, such as computer-assisted surgery services; and patient services, such as wound-management. The report noted that having more nursing care per patient, and having effective nurse communications, are signs of improved patient outcomes, safety and satisfaction.
In 2024, UAMS became one of less than 10% of U.S. health care organizations to earn Magnet® designation, the highest international recognition for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).