Lehigh Valley Hospital ranks for the 19th consecutive year as one of the nation's top hospitals on U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals list.

The 2014-2015 list names LVH among the nation's top 3 percent of leading hospitals in 10 categories: cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; gynecology; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; pulmonology; and urology. This is the first year in which the hospital ranked in double digits. LVH is the only hospital in the region nationally ranked.LVH's cardiology and cardiac surgery; gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; gynecology orthopedics; pulmonology; and urology specialties also made the 2013-14 Best Hospitals list. This is the 10th time cardiology and heart surgery; geriatrics; and urology have been on the list; the ninth for gastroenterology and GI surgery; the sixth for orthopedics; and the third for gynecology and pulmonology.LVH is the only hospital in the area to make the U.S. News national rankings in at least one specialty area every year since 1996.In addition to the Best Hospitals national rankings, U.S. News cites only about 15 percent of hospitals as "high-performing" in regional markets around the country. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg are both recognized among the Best Hospitals in northeastern Pennsylvania/ Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley Hospital is ranked the number three hospital in Pennsylvania. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg is listed as a high performer in gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; orthopedics; pulmonology and urology, and is ranked 24 in the state. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton is listed as a high-performer in pulmonology, ranked number 35 in Pennsylvania and recognized among the Best Hospitals in northeastern Pennsylvania/Lehigh Valley and the Scranton metro area."This kind of national quality recognition reflects the passion, talent and hard work of our 13,000 network colleagues," said Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA, acting president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Health Network. "Their daily dedication to healing, comforting and caring for the people of our community is unparalleled."U.S. News evaluates hospitals in 16 adult specialties. In most specialties, it ranks the nation's top 50 hospitals and recognizes other high-performing hospitals that provide care at nearly the level of their nationally ranked peers."The data tell the story a hospital that emerged from our analysis as one of the best has much to be proud of," said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings Editor. "A Best Hospital has demonstrated its expertise in treating the most challenging patients."Lehigh Valley Health Network includes four hospital facilities two in Allentown, one in Bethlehem and one in Hazleton; 11 health centers caring for communities in five counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging, home health services and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred.