(PRESS RELEASE) Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Health System has been ranked again as the nation’s best in ophthalmology by U.S News & World Report. This year marks the 19th time, and the 17th consecutive year, that Bascom Palmer has received the No. 1 ranking since the publication began surveying U.S. physicians for its annual “Best Hospitals” rankings 31 years ago.
“Delivering excellent vision care to our patients is always our number one priority,” said Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., director of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. “Our dedicated team has been able to turn the COVID-19 challenge into new opportunities to deliver clinical care safely and effectively, while advancing our research collaborations and medical education programs throughout the world.”
One example is Bascom Palmer’s innovative approach to patient safety, including telehealth and hybrid services that shorten diagnostic imaging clinic visits. “Our skilled ophthalmologists can now provide vision evaluations, consultations and follow-up care to patients in their homes,” said Alfonso, who is chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Kathleen and Stanley J. Glaser Endowed, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Responding to the global need for remote health care, Bascom Palmer’s clinicians and researchers are moving ahead with other innovations in ophthalmic technology, such as remote slit lamps for diagnostic imaging, vision testing devices that patients can use at home, and artificial intelligence systems to detect eye diseases using a vast databank of images and use of data available in the electronic health record. “Regardless of what the next few years have in store, Bascom Palmer will continue to play a leading role in advancing every field of ophthalmology,” said Alfonso.
Bascom Palmer is also ranked as the #1 Overall Ophthalmology Program, the Best in Clinical Care, and the Best Ophthalmic Residency Program in the United States by Ophthalmology Times, a national publication focused on cutting-edge advancement in vision care.
“Bascom Palmer is a global leader in medical education, creating exceptional ophthalmologists who go on to care for patients around the world,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., MHA, dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School of Medicine. “Bascom Palmer faculty members also collaborate with their colleagues across the Miller School to provide personalized care to our patients.”
The U.S News & World Report rankings are based on data from nearly 5,000 medical centers and survey responses from more than 30,000 physicians. The 2020-2021 Best Hospital rankings are accessible here and in the U.S. News “Best Hospitals” 2020 guidebook.