Loma Linda University Medical Center is Inland's No. 1

Loma Linda University Medical Center is ranked No. 1 among all hospitals in Riverside and San Bernardino counties for the third year in a row, according to a U.S. News & World Report list released Tuesday.

The hospital——was recognized as "high performing" in 11 categories: geriatrics; cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology; gynecology; nephrology; rrthopedics; pulmonology; and urology, a spokesman for Loma Linda University said in a statement.

Loma Linda University Medical Center was also ranked 18th among hospitals in California, the first time that U.S. News has assigned rankings for hospitals within their state, LLU spokesman Herbert Atienza said.

"We are extremely proud yet humbled to receive the recognition of being the No. 1 hospital in Riverside and San Bernardino counties for three years in a row," Loma Linda University Medical Center CEO Ruthita Fike said in prepared remarks.

"The rankings are based on benchmarks that are important to us: patient safety, the skills of our professionals, and how we respond to the most trying medical cases, among other criteria," Fike said. "This recognition affirms the commitment and hard work of everyone at Loma Linda University Medical Center to provide the best care that we can offer to our patients."

This year's U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, the 23rd annual edition, includes more than 720 of the nation's estimated 5,000 hospitals, Atienza said.

The hospital rankings are like a GPS-type aid to help steer patients to hospitals with strong skills in the procedures and medical conditions that present the biggest challenges, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow said.

"All of these hospitals are the kinds of medical centers that should be on your list when you need the best care," Comarow said. "They are where other hospitals send the toughest cases."

The rankings were published by U.S. News in collaboration with RTI International, a research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

The complete rankings and methodology are available at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals.