By: Candice Tang, ORT Times Writer
Toronto General Hospital (TG) has a lot to be proud of. Its clinicians have achieved many world firsts in the fields of organ transplant and cardiovascular care, including the first single lung transplant (1983), the first triple organ transplant (2015) and the first use of an external pacemaker in open-heart resuscitation.
More recently, TG was ranked among the 10 best hospitals in the world by Newsweek magazine through a partnership with Statista Inc., a global market research company. The top 10 list also included the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Singapore General Hospital. Over 1,000 hospitals were included in the analysis.
“UHN is proud to be recognized amongst this elite group of hospitals,” said Dr. Kevin Smith, UHN President & CEO in a news release. “This recognition is a testament to our staff, Board and volunteers—past and present.”
An exceptional example of TG’s commitment to care is the story of Jared Wright, whose routine of stopping at patients’ bedsides to say hello helped to save the life Herby, a father of three with congenital heart failure. Had Jared not visited Herby on that fateful day, Herby might not have survived a stroke.
Prioritizing patient care and safety and fostering an inclusive, positive work culture are among the features of excellent hospitals like TG. These qualities helped the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Tokyo Hospital earn spots in the top 10 list.
In addition to leading Canada’s largest organ transplant program and being home to the internationally renowned Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, TG is one of the biggest and most well-funded research hospitals in the country. The Toronto General Hospital Research Institute includes 355 researchers, 243 trainees and 313 staff, who collectively produced over 1,432 research publications last year.
Other UHN hospitals have also been recognized for their outstanding achievements. The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre ranks among the top five cancer centres in the world, and KITE is considered a world leader in complex rehabilitation sciences. In 2018, UHN as a whole was named Canada’s top research hospital for the eighth year in a row by RE$EARCH Infosource Inc.
Being ranked as one of the top hospitals in the world is a huge accomplishment for TG, UHN and Canada.