Kansas University Hospital has a spot among the top academic hospitals in the nation in quality and safety, according to the University HealthSystem Consortium.

The Kansas City, Kan., hospital earned a No. 2 overall ranking and received high marks in patient satisfaction and risk-adjusted mortality rate, both of which were used to calculate scores.

KU Hospital finished behind only Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, affiliated with the University of Indiana, in the overall rankings that scored 93 different hospitals that are members of the consortium.

Bob Page, KU Hospital CEO, said the hospital had focused on patient satisfaction scores over the past few years, improving them from what were once the lowest scores in the nation.

“It’s in keeping with our goal to be the best hospital in the country,” Page said. “We’re not the one-hit wonder that makes it and then drops out.”

Hospital officials traveled to Atlanta to receive recognition and an engraved crystal award to be presented today.

Tammy Peterman, KU Hospital chief operating officer, said the hospital was tops overall in patient satisfaction scores among the ranked hospitals.

“We think this is great news for the state of Kansas and the region,” she said.

The hospital has also earned mentions in other rankings in recent months, ranking 36th in the nation for ear, nose and throat programs by U.S. News & World Report, which also ranked the hospital 39th for heart care and heart surgery and 48th for kidney disorders in its 2009 “Best Hospitals” issue.

KU Hospital also ranks first in the area for benefit to the community in a survey of area hospitals by the Missouri Hospital Association.