BY JIM HALL

Mary Washington Hospital scored near the top of one and near the bottom of another in two new hospital rankings by national magazines.

In U.S. News & World Report, the Fredericksburg hospital ranked sixth among 125 Virginia hospitals. In Consumer Reports, the hospital's "safety score" was 32 out of 39 Virginia hospitals.

Stafford Hospital and Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center are not ranked in either study.

U.S. News describes Mary Washington as one of the best hospitals in Virginia with eight specialties that it describes as "high performing." These are ear, nose and throat; geriatrics; neurology and neurosurgery; pulmonology; gastroenterology; nephrology; orthopedics; and urology. The rankings appear on the magazine's website and will be in its Best Hospitals 2013 guidebook in August.

"Our No. 6 ranking within Virginia confirms that our exceptionally skilled team of medical professionals and support staff are providing the best care for our community," Kevin Van Renan, senior vice president and hospital administrator, said in a statement.

In its August issue, Consumer Reports measured hospitals in four areas: hospital-acquired infections, re-admission rate, clear discharge instructions and percentage of chest and abdominal CT scans ordered twice for the same patient. Mary Washington scored well in scanning and infections, but poorly in communication and re-admissions. Its overall safety score was 43 out of a possible 100.

Last month, Mary Washington received an "A," the top score, on a safety report by the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit founded by some of the nation's largest businesses.

Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
Email: jhall@freelancestar.com