University of Colorado Hospital No. 1 in the state, again.

The UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora held onto its No. 1 ranking for the best hospital in the state, a distinction the health system has maintained since 2012.

“This recognition highlights the unwavering dedication of UCHealth’s staff and providers, who always put our patients first,” said Elizabeth B. Concordia, UCHealth president and CEO, said in a statement. “Their constant work to provide excellent care remains a top priority and serves as the foundation for everything we do.”

U.S. News ranked UCHealth among the nation’s best in four specialties: pulmonology and lung surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; obstetrics and gynecology; and, cancer.

“As Colorado’s only adult academic medical center, we are honored by these designations,” Tom Gronow, president and CEO of University of Colorado Hospital, said in a statement. “Our dedicated teams consistently strive to ensure our patients receive the highest quality medical care.”

Typically, urban areas in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago have had the highest concentration of top medical centers in the nation, according to an annual ranking by U.S. News and World Report.

In Colorado, UCHealth dominated the list.

Of the six best hospitals, with a tie in fifth, identified by U.S. News and World Report, three were owned and operated by UCHealth.

Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver was ranked second in Colorado followed by UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies and UCHealth Memorial Hospital. Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree and Penrose-St. Francis Health Services-Colorado Springs rounded out the state’s top five hospitals.

Each year, the national publication releases national and regional rankings after compiling and analyzing patient care data for nearly 5,000 hospitals across the U.S.

More than 100 Colorado hospitals were evaluated, officials said.

The annual rankings are designed to help patients and their physicians choose the most suitable hospital for their individual needs.

“Choosing the right hospital to match your needs shouldn't be a guessing game,” Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News, said in a statement. “The 2024-2025 edition of Best Hospitals provides patients and their families clear, data-driven insights on hospital performance and empowers Americans to choose the facility best suited to their specific health care needs.”

U.S. News has released its annual ranking for more than three decades, evaluating more than 30 medical and surgical services among nearly 5,000 hospitals.

For the full rankings, visit https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area.