U.S. News Pulmonology & Lung Surgery ranking methodology
U.S. News ranks hospitals for Pulmonology & Lung Surgery by blending risk-adjusted patient outcomes, hospital structure and resources, and a physician expert-opinion component. It uses a reduced ~12% expert-opinion weight (with roughly 3% for public transparency), because strong public performance data is available — so measured outcomes carry the largest share.
What this ranking covers
The Pulmonology & Lung Surgery specialty recognizes hospitals that excel at complex lung and respiratory conditions — COPD, pneumonia, respiratory failure, and lung cancer — together with thoracic (lung) surgery.
How it’s scored
Per U.S. News’s 2025–26 methodology, the score draws on:
- Patient outcomes — risk-adjusted results such as survival and being discharged home; the largest share.
- Structure & resources directly related to pulmonology care.
- Expert opinion (reputation) — weighted about 12% in 2025–26 — reduced from the usual 15%.
Related procedures & conditions
Related High Performing ratings include COPD, Pneumonia, and Lung Cancer Surgery. A hospital can earn these threshold-based shields without being nationally ranked in the Pulmonology & Lung Surgery specialty, and vice versa.
Frequently asked questions
How does U.S. News rank hospitals for pulmonology & lung surgery?
The Pulmonology & Lung Surgery ranking blends risk-adjusted patient outcomes, hospital structure and resources, and a physician expert-opinion component. It is a data-driven specialty that uses about 12% in 2025–26 — reduced from the usual 15% expert-opinion weight, with outcomes carrying the largest share.
How much does reputation count in this ranking?
About 12% in the 2025–26 edition — reduced from the usual 15% — with outcomes carrying the largest share, alongside roughly 3% for public transparency. Pulmonology is one of four specialties with this public-transparency adjustment.
What does the pulmonology & lung surgery ranking cover?
It evaluates complex lung and respiratory conditions — COPD, pneumonia, respiratory failure, and lung cancer — together with thoracic (lung) surgery.
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- U.S. News & World Report, “Best Hospitals” specialty rankings. health.usnews.com
- U.S. News & World Report, “FAQ: How and Why We Rank and Rate Hospitals.” health.usnews.com
Independence & trademarks. Shield Tracker is an independent software product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by U.S. News & World Report. “U.S. News & World Report” and “Best Hospitals” are trademarks of U.S. News & World Report L.P., used here descriptively for education and commentary. Methodology facts reflect U.S. News’s published 2025–26 Best Hospitals methodology and are subject to change each year.