Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital has been rated a “High-Performing Hospital” for knee replacement for 2019-20 by U.S. News & World Report.

Tidelands Waccamaw earned a “High Performing” rating for knee replacement in recognition of care that was significantly better than the national average, as measured by factors such as patient outcomes. “High Performing” is the highest rating U.S. News awards for knee replacement.

“This top rating by such a trusted company is truly a testament to the highly skilled, compassionate orthopedics team at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital,” said Bruce Bailey, president and CEO of Tidelands Health. “It leaves no doubt that patients who come to Tidelands Waccamaw for knee replacement are receiving some of the best care in the country.”

For the 2019-20 ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in nine procedures and conditions. Fewer than a third of all hospitals received a high-performing rating.

The annual ratings, now in their fifth year, are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for common conditions and elective procedures.

“For 30 years, U.S. News has strived to make hospital quality more transparent to health care consumers nationwide,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. “By providing the most comprehensive data available on nearly every hospital across the United States, we give patients, families and physicians information to support their search for the best care across a range of procedures, conditions and specialties.”

The U.S. News methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality such as risk-adjusted outcome rates, volume, quality of nursing and other care-related indicators. The ratings were produced by U.S. News analysts.

The U.S. News & World Report ranking is the latest in a series of accolades for the orthopedic care offered at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital. The hospital also has certifications for knee replacement and hip replacement from The Joint Commission, the largest independent health care accrediting agency in the United States. And Tidelands Waccamaw is recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement.