BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The National Research Corporation (NRC) today released its 2006/07 Consumer Choice Awards, ranking UAB Hospital among the nation’s 233 top hospitals in terms of consumer perceptions of quality and image.

In what NRC calls “the nation’s most comprehensive consumer assessment of the health care industry,” consumers named 3,200 hospitals in 186 markets throughout the contiguous U.S. The annual survey represented 450,000 consumers in 200,000 households.

In the Birmingham area, only UAB Hospital made the list of top institutions. And within Alabama, only two other hospitals (Huntsville and Providence, Mobile) also came out on top.

“UAB Hospital takes tremendous pride in this recognition,” said UAB Hospital Chief Operating Officer Michael R. Waldrum, M.D. “Our employees put all of their hearts and minds into their work each and every day, and consumers agree.”