For the fourth year in a row, Stanford Hospital & Clinics has been named a Consumer Choice Award winner by National Research Corp., which tracks health-care performance.

The 2002 award ranks Stanford as one of the nation’s top 152 hospitals that consumers rated as having the best reputation and quality of care among the hospitals in their area. Stanford was the only hospital this year to win in three local markets — San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland.

"Stanford Hospital is proud to be consistently ranked as one of the top 15 hospitals in the nation," said Martha Marsh, president and CEO of Stanford Hospital & Clinics. "We are especially honored to have been chosen as the preferred hospital by health-care consumers in our own area for the fourth consecutive year. Our doctors, nurses and other staff maintain a strong commitment to providing patients with excellent care, utilizing the latest treatment information and technology in a caring environment."

The award is based on a survey of nearly 140,000 households in more than 100 metropolitan areas in the United States. Consumers were asked to rate the hospitals in their area on image, overall quality, and the quality of doctors and nurses at the hospital.

"The winners deserve recognition for the emphasis they have placed on providing quality care," said Michael Hays, president and CEO of National Research Corp.