COOKEVILLE – Cookeville Regional Medical Center, where Drs. Joseph Jestus and L.R. Rodriguez-Cruz of Tier 1 Neurosurgery perform delicate surgical procedures on the brain, spine, spinal cord, carotid artery and nervous system, was recently ranked no. 2 for safety out of 37 hospitals and medical centers in Tennessee by Consumer Reports.

“We’re very glad, but not surprised, to know that Cookeville Regional ranked so highly, and we’re proud to be affiliated with a hospital that has such a great track record for taking excellent care of its patients,” said Jestus.

The study represents Consumer Reports’ first effort to rate hospitals for safety, a need that the publication says has made it “challenging for patients to know about the safety of the hospitals in their communities.” Consumer Reports compiled the data from government and independent sources on 1,159 hospitals in 44 states and also interviewed patients, physicians, hospital administrators and safety experts; reviewed medical literature; and looked at hospital inspections and investigations.

The scoring criteria used to determine the rankings included deadly infections, radiation overload through imaging, readmission, communication, avoiding complications and avoiding mortality. The report was published in the magazine’s August issue.

“This is just another accolade that boosts the credibility of our thriving healthcare community,” said Rodriguez-Cruz. “It also serves as even more proof that people of the Upper Cumberland can feel very good about the quality of health care that is available to them right here at home.”

Tier 1 Neurosurgery, part of Tier 1 Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Institute, brings state-of-the-art neurosurgical techniques to the Upper Cumberland and surrounding areas for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders affecting the brain, carotid artery, spinal cord and nervous system, as well as degenerative spine conditions.