The University of California's five medical centers have been named among the best hospitals in America in the U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings, which honored UCLA and UC San Francisco medical centers as the best in the Western United States.

The magazine evaluated 5,453 hospitals nationally, assessing their ability to treat the most challenging cases. Hospitals were ranked on patient outcomes, reputation among doctors and other care-related factors such as nurse staffing. Only 170 medical centers scored high enough to make the rankings, with 19 selected for the honor roll by scoring high in six or more specialties.

The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center was named the No. 3 hospital in the nation and, for the 19th consecutive year, as the best hospital in the Western United States. (Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., were named No. 1 and 2 in the nation respectively.) UCLA scored at the honor roll level in 14 specialties. Overall, the medical center achieved rankings in 15 adult specialties – including first place in geriatric care – and five pediatric specialties.

UC San Francisco Medical Center was named the No. 7 top hospital in America and the second best in the Western United States. The medical center scored at the honor roll level in 11 specialties and overall was ranked in 15 adult specialties and seven pediatric specialties.

In addition, UC San Diego Medical Center ranked among the top 50 hospitals in eight specialties. UC Irvine Medical Center ranked in the top 50 in three specialties, and UC Davis Medical Center ranked in one specialty.

The America's Best Hospitals rankings appear in the magazine's July 21 issue, which goes on sale July 14. The full rankings are available online.