These Are the Safest North Carolina Hospitals, Experts Say
Experts have come out with a new list of the best and safest North Carolina hospitals, so you can see which local hospitals you’ll want to head to when you’re in need of medical attention. One local hospital has even made the national “honor roll.” Hopefully, you don’t have to go to the hospital too much in life, but when you do, you want to make sure to be at a good hospital.
Experts Say These Are the Safest North Carolina Hospitals
The experts at U.S. News and World Report have released their annual tally of the safest and best hospitals in America. “For more than 30 years, the mission of U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Hospitals rankings has been to help guide patients, in consultation with their doctors, to the right hospital when they need care,” they explain. “Because each patient’s needs are different, U.S. News offers rankings and ratings in three dozen different health care services, including cancer care, orthopedics, heart bypass surgery and much more. In each state and region, hospitals with a wide breadth of excellence are recognized as Best Regional Hospitals, and the best of them are also named to the national Honor Roll.” So, the methodology is thorough and includes the input of actual doctors and experts.
Before we get to the best and safest North Carolina hospitals, let’s look at what U.S. News and World Report says are the best hospitals in the entire U.S. The publication’s “honor roll” includes Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles; Cleveland Clinic; Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian, Philadelphia; Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston; Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Mayo Clinic, Phoenix; Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Mount Sinai Hospital, New York; New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell, New York; Northwestern Medicine-Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago; North Shore University Hospital at Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York; NYU Langone Hospitals, New York; Rush University Medical Center, Chicago; Stanford Health Care-Stanford Hospital, Palo Alto, California; UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles; UC San Diego Health-La Jolla and Hillcrest Hospitals, San Diego; and UCSF Health-UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco. One North Carolina hospital is also on that roster: the Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.
So, what are the best and safest North Carolina hospitals? No. 1 on the tally is the Duke University Hospital, followed by UNC at No. 2, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center at No. 3, UNC Rex at No. 4 and ECU at No. 5. For South Carolina, No. 1 is MUSC Health-University Medical Center.
5 Surprising Symptoms People Ignore Most When They're Sick
Cold sweats or Chills
Chills and cold sweats can be uncomfortable. Chills feel like a sudden wave of cold running through your body, making you shiver. Cold sweats, on the other hand, are when you start sweating but your skin feels cold and damp instead of warm. Some people may not immediately associate these symptoms with something serious. They might attribute them to temporary factors such as being in a cold environment or wearing too many layers of clothing. People may underestimate the significance of cold sweats or chills, especially if they are not accompanied by other noticeable symptoms. They may assume it’s just a passing discomfort that doesn’t require medical attention.
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Fever
When you have a fever, your body temperature rises above its normal range, which is typically around 98.6°F (37°C). Fevers can vary in severity and may range from mild to high-grade, depending on the underlying cause. Sometimes, people ignore a fever for a few reasons. They might think it’s just a common cold or flu and believe it’ll go away on its own. It’s important to remember that a fever can be a sign that the body is fighting an infection or an underlying health condition.
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Body Aches
When you experience body aches, you may feel soreness, tenderness, or a general sense of discomfort in your muscles, joints, or other areas. People may dismiss body aches because they may think it’s just a normal part of everyday life and not something to be concerned about. Some may believe their body aches are due to factors like physical exertion, tiredness, or overexertion during exercise. Also, if someone has experienced them before and they have resolved on their own.
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Green Mucus
Some people may believe that the color of mucus is not a reliable indicator of an illness. While green mucus can be associated with certain infections or respiratory conditions, it’s not always a definite sign of a serious problem. People may assume that it’s normal and will resolve on its own.
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Serious Cough
This kind of cough can disrupt your daily life, mess with your sleep, and leave you feeling exhausted. People ignore serious coughs for a few reasons. Some think it’ll go away on its own or believe it’s just a minor issue like a cold or allergies. Others worry about the cost or hassle of going to the doctor. There’s also the fear of getting a serious diagnosis that can make people hesitant to seek help.
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