Nearly 900 hospitals were studied for their effectiveness at delivering cancer care to adult patients in the 23-24 U.S. News & World Report survey of American hospitals.  In the U.S. News study, hospitals were scored on multiple measures related to their adult cancer patient outcomes, the scope of their adult cancer care programs, and the amount of professional recognition they have earned from the wider cancer care community.  Among the top 50 rated U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey, twelve were based in the U.S. Mid-East region, an area that encompasses the District of Columbia and five states.  Among the twelve were three Mid-East region hospitals that ranked among the top 10 highest-rated adult cancer care hospitals in the nation. Here's a brief look at these ten Mid-East region medical institutions and where they ranked nationally for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey:

The U.S. Mid-East's Top Cancer Hospitals

Memorial Sloan Kettering Center

Location:  New York City

National Rank:  #2 (See ranking details)

Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania - Penn Presbyterian

Location:  Philadelphia, PA

National Rank:  #6 (See ranking details)

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Location:  Baltimore, MD

National Rank:  #9 (See ranking details)

Mount Sinai Hospital

Location:  New York City

National Rank:  #12 (See ranking details)

New York-Presbyterian Hospital

Location:  New York City 

National Rank:  #13 (See ranking details)

NYU Langone Medical Center 

Location:  New York City

National Rank:  #22 (See ranking details)

UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside

Location:  Pittsburgh, PA

National Rank:  #25 (See ranking details)

North Shore University Hospital

Location:  Manhasset, NY

National Rank:  #26 (See ranking details)

Montefiore Medical Center

Location:  Bronx, NY

National Rank:  #35 (See ranking details)

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Location:  Philadephia, PA

National Rank:  #42 (See ranking details)

Lenox Hill Hospital

Location:  New York City

National Rank:  #43 (See ranking details)

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals 

Location:  Philadelphia, PA

National Rank:  #47 (See ranking details)

For a deeper look at the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 23-24 U.S. News survey, or to find the adult cancer care rating of other Mid-East region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care

The most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows more than 187,000 medical records specialists working in the United States as of May 2022. With just over 27,000 medical records specialists employed, the four-state Southwestern U.S. accounted for about 14.5% of medical records specialist employment in the United States.  The region was one of the weaker ones nationally for medical records specialist pay, as all four states in the region recorded an annual mean wages level for the profession that was below the national average of $51,090. Moreover, Arizona and Texas, which accounted for 87% of the medical records specialists jobs in the region, recorded annual mean wage levels for the profession that put both states among the ten worst states in the nation for that pay metric.  From May 2022 BLS data, here is a state-level look at medical records specialist pay in the Southwestern U.S.:

Medical Records Specialist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	4,040	$45,610	43rd
NM	1,340	$46,670	37th
OK	2,100	$46,350	39th
TX	19,750	$44,680	46th
U.S.	187,720	$51,090	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on January 20, 2024

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most current occupational employment data shows that, as of May 2022, there were more than 182,000 healthcare social workers (HSWs) employed in the U.S.  More than 26,000 of those HSW jobs were in the five-state Great Lakes region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Great Lakes region to be a below-average one for HSW pay, as no state in the region featured an annual mean wage level for healthcare social workers that was above the profession's national average of $62,760.  Further examination of BLS data from May 2022 reveals the following details about healthcare social worker pay in the Great Lakes region:

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	4,470	$59,030	30th
IN	4,550	$57,150	39th
MI	5,700	$59,390	28th
OH	7,600	$59,720	27th
WI	3,880	$61,110	21st
U.S.	182,420	$62,760	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 20, 2024

In the 23-24 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, close to 900 hospitals were examined for their proficiency in delivering cancer care to adult patients.  The study scored hospitals on various measures related to their cancer patient outcomes, the scale and scope of their cancer care services and programs, and the level of professional recognition received by a hospital from their peers within the cancer care community.  The five-state Rocky Mountain region is not a good one for patients needing cancer treatment, as the region has only a single hospital that ranked among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey:

The Top Cancer Hospitals in the Rocky Mountain Region

Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center
Location:  Denver, CO

National Rank:  #46 (See ranking details)

To further examine the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 23-24 U.S. News survey, or to find cancer care ratings for other Rocky Mountain region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care

Data released in 2023 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that, as of May 2022, there were over 229,700 physical therapists (PTs) working in the United States.  More than 55,200 physical therapists were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. as of May 2022.  BLS data reveals the Southeast region to be a mostly subpar one for PT pay, where practitioners often earn less than the national average annual mean wage for physical therapists.  No state in the region had an annual mean wage level for physical therapists that topped the profession's national average of $97,960, with more than half the states in the region ranking in the bottom half of all states for that pay metric.  A deeper examination of BLS data from May 2022 reveals the following about physical therapist pay in the Southeastern U.S.:

Physical Therapist Pay in the Southeastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	2,470	$97,120	13th
AR	1,930	$93,160	26th
FL	14,970	$91,730	34th
GA	5,990	$96,670	16th
KY	3,420	$86,220	49th
LA	2,910	$95,820	23rd
MS	1,820	$96,520	17th
NC	6,720	$92,200	30th
SC	3,110	$88,170	45th
TN	4,140	$91,630	35th
VA	6,610	$96,900	14th
WV	1,170	$93,000	28th
U.S.	229,740	$97,960	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 15, 2024

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) most current occupational employment data put pharmacist employment at nearly 325,500 jobs as of May 2022.  Just over 24,400 pharmacist jobs were in the seven-state Great Plains region at that time.  BLS data reveals the region to be a relatively weak one for pharmacist pay.  Although Minnesota ranked among the five best states for pharmacist annual mean wages, nearly 73% of the region's pharmacists lived in a state where the pharmacist annual mean wage level was below the profession's national average of $129,410.  Moreover, three states in the region ranked among the bottom third of all states in the nation for pharmacist annual mean wage levels.  BLS data from May 2022 offers the following details about pharmacist pay in the Great Plains region of the U.S.:

Pharmacist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	2,790	$127,520	23rd
KS	3,290	$122,860	38th
MN	6,630	$136,950	5th
MO	7,280	$128,040	19th
NE	2,210	$121,340	44th
ND	1,010	$122,470	39th
SD	1,220	$128,390	17th
U.S.	325,480	$129,410	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 15, 2024

In the 23-24 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, nearly 900 hospitals were graded on their effectiveness at delivering cancer care to adult patients.  The study scored hospitals on various measures related to their cancer patient outcomes, the scope of their cancer care programs, and the level of professional recognition a hospital earned from the wider cancer care community.  Ten hospitals in the Far Western U.S. rated among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey.  This included three hospitals that ranked among the ten best cancer hospitals nationally and a total of six hospitals that ranked among the fifteen best cancer hospitals in the nation.  No other region of the country had as many top 15 cancer hospitals as did the Far West.  Here's a quick view of where these ten Far West hospitals rated nationally for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey:

The Far West's Top Cancer Hospitals

UCLA Medical Center
Location:  Los Angeles

National Rank:  #4 (See ranking details)

UCSF Medical Center
Location:  San Francisco
National Rank:  #7 (See ranking details)

City of Hope Cancer Center

Location:  Duarte, CA

National Rank:  #8 (See ranking details)

Stanford Hospital
Location:  Stanford, CA
National Rank:  #11 (See ranking details)

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Location:  Los Angeles 
National Rank:  #14 (See ranking details)

USC Norris Cancer Hospital
Location:  Los Angeles

National Rank:  #15 (See ranking details)

UC San Diego Health

Location: San Diego

National Rank:  #20 (See ranking details)

OHSU Knight Cancer Institute

Portland, OR

National Rank: #32 (See ranking details)

UC Davis Medical Center

Location: Sacramento, CA

National Rank:  #36 (See ranking details)

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Location:  Seattle, WA
National Rank:  #38 (See ranking details)

For a closer look into the metrics used to rate adult cancer care hospitals in the 23-24 U.S. News survey, or to find the cancer care rating of other Far West region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.

The latest occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows more than 187,000 medical records specialists at work in the United States as of May 2022. With just over 8,200 medical records specialists employed as of May 2022, the six-state New England region accounted for about 4.4% of medical records specialist employment in the U.S.  The region was one of the better ones nationally for medical records specialist pay.  Although three New England states had an annual mean wage level for medical records specialists that was below the profession's national average of $51,090, Connecticut and Massachusetts both ranked among the top six states nationally for that pay metric.  And those two states were home to over 60% of the medical records specialist jobs in the region. From May 2022 BLS data, here is a closer look at medical records specialist pay in New England:

Medical Records Specialist Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	1,590	$60,410	5th
MA	3,500	$58,580	6th
ME	1,240	$49,220	22nd
NH	840	$46,250	41st
RI	620	$51,410	19th
VT	440	$48,330	27th
U.S.	187,720	$51,090	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on January 15, 2024

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published data earlier this year indicating that, as of May 2022, there were over 182,400 healthcare social workers (HSWs) employed in the United States.  More than 39,000 of those HSW jobs were in the five-state Mid-Eastern U.S. region.  BLS data revealed the Mid-Eastern U.S. to be a rather weak one for healthcare social worker pay.  Although New Jersey recorded an annual mean wage level for healthcare social workers that was the 6th highest in the nation, more than 90% of the Mid-Eastern region's HSW jobs were in states where that pay metric was below the national average for the profession. An examination of BLS data from May 2022 produced the following details about healthcare social worker pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DE	590	$58,100	34th
MD	4,690	$58,980	31st
NJ	3,010	$71,660	6th
NY	25,210	$60,440	23rd
PA	5,870	$62,410	19th
U.S.	182,420	$62,760	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 15, 2024.

The 23-24 U.S. News & World Report survey of American hospitals rated almost 900 hospitals for their proficiency and effectiveness in delivering adult cancer care.  The study rated hospitals on various metrics related to the outcomes for their adult cancer patients, the scale of their adult cancer care services and programs, and the amount of professional recognition garnered by a hospital from within the cancer care community.  Only four hospitals in the U.S. Southwest rated among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey, but this included the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, which was rated the top cancer hospital in the nation.  The Southwest's top cancer hospitals, and where they ranked nationally for adult cancer care in the 23-24 U.S. News survey, were:

The Southwest's Top Cancer Hospitals

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Location:  Houston, TX
National Rank:  #1 (See ranking details)

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Location:  Dallas, TX
National Rank:  #19 (See ranking details)

Houston Methodist Hospital
Location:  Houston, TX
National Rank:  #20 (See ranking details)

Mayo Clinic Arizona Campus

Location:  Phoenix, AZ
National Rank:  #24 (See ranking details)

For a deeper look at the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 23-24 U.S. News survey, or to find the cancer care rating of other Southwestern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care.

The most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on physical therapist (PT) employment put PT employment in the U.S. at just under 229,800 jobs as of May 2022.  The five-state Great Lakes region accounted for about 34,000 of those physical therapist jobs according to BLS data.  The Great Lakes region was a relatively weak one for physical therapist pay, with four states in the region having an annual mean wage level for physical therapists that was below the profession's national average of $97,960.  The exception to the subpar PT annual mean wage levels was Illinois, which ranked 11th in the nation for physical therapist annual mean wages.  More examination of BLS data from May 2022 reveals the following details about physical therapist pay in the Great Lakes region:

Physical Therapist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	9,460	$99,420	11th
IN	4,370	$92,790	29th
MI	7,040	$89,570	41st
OH	8,060	$95,870	22nd
WI	5,040	$93,010	27th
U.S.	229,740	$97,960	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 14, 2024

May 2022 data released from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put pharmacist employment in the United States at over 325,400.  The five-state Rocky Mountain region accounted for about 11,300 pharmacist jobs or less than 3.5% of the national total.  The region was a mixed one for pharmacist pay.  About 70% of the pharmacists in the region lived in Colorado or Utah, two states that rated among the top ten states for pharmacists in terms of annual mean wage levels.   The picture was different elsewhere as the annual mean wage level for pharmacists in each of the region's three other states was below the profession's $129,410 national average.  More examination of BLS data from May 2022 produced the following details about pharmacist pay in the Rocky Mountain region:

Pharmacist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	4,990	$131,740	10th
ID	1,580	$126,120	28th
MT	1,300	$125,220	34th
UT	2,890	$132,260	9th
WY	510	$126,580	26th
U.S.	325,480	$129,410	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 14, 2024

In the 23-24 U.S. News & World Report ratings of American hospitals, nearly 900 hospitals were scored on their proficiency at delivering adult cancer care.  The study rated hospitals on various metrics associated with the outcomes for their adult cancer patients, the scope of their cancer care programs, and the recognition received from peers within the cancer care community.  Eight hospitals from the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. rated among the top 50 U.S. hospitals for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey.  Here's a quick look at these eight Southeastern hospitals and where they rated nationally for adult cancer care in the 23-24 survey:

The Southeast's Top Cancer Hospitals

Mayo Clinic in Florida

Location:  Jacksonville, FL

National Rank:  #27 (See ranking details)

Duke University Hospital

Location:  Durham, NC

National Rank:  #29 (See ranking details)

Moffitt Cancer Center

Location:  Tampa, FL

National Rank:  #31 (See ranking details)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Location: Nashville, TN

National Rank:  #40 (See ranking details)

AdventHealth Orlando

Location:  Orlando, FL

National Rank:  #41 (See ranking details)

U Kentucky Markey Cancer Center

Location:  Lexington, KY

National Rank:  #44 (See ranking details)

Emory University Hospital

Location:  Atlanta, GA

National Rank:  #45 (See ranking details)

UNC Hospitals

Location:  Chapel Hill, NC

National Rank:  #47 (See ranking details)

For further information on the metrics used to score adult cancer care hospitals in the 23-24 U.S. News survey, or to find the cancer care rating of other Southeastern hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Adult Cancer Care

The most current occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the number of medical records specialists at work in the United States at more than 187,700 as of May 2022. With just over 14,300 medical records specialists employed at that time, the seven-state Great Plains region accounted for about 7.6% of medical records specialist employment in the United States.  Although Minnesota was rated as the 9th best state in the nation for medical records specialist annual mean wages, the region overall was a rather weak one nationally for medical records specialist pay.  Nearly 78% of the region's medical records specialists were employed in one of the other six states in the region, all of which had annual mean wage levels for the profession that were below the national average of $51,090. From May 2022 BLS data, here is a closer look at medical records specialist pay in the Great Plains region:

Medical Records Specialist Pay in the Great Plains Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IA	2,420	$47,180	35th
KS	1,840	$44,970	45th
MN	3,190	$57,320	9th
MO	3,520	$49,020	23rd
NE	1,770	$46,300	40th
ND	470	$48,590	26th
SD	1,130	$49,640	21st
U.S.	187,720	$51,090	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on January 14, 2024

The most current occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that, as of May 2022, more than 182,000 healthcare social workers (HSWs) were working in the United States.  More than 23,000 of those HSW jobs were in the six-state Far West region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Far West U.S. to be the best in the nation for healthcare social worker pay. Not only did every state in the region register a healthcare social worker annual mean wage that topped the national average of $62,670, but every state in the region rated among the ten best in the nation for HSW annual mean wages. This included California and Oregon, which were #1 and #2 nationally for that pay metric.  A deeper dive into BLS data from May 2022 reveals the following details about healthcare social worker pay in the Far West U.S.:

Healthcare Social Worker Pay in the Far West U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	170	$68,430	10th
CA	14,430	$88,380	1st
HI	810	$72,660	5th
NV	1,290	$69,940	9th
OR	1,770	$77,150	2nd
WA	4,560	$71,270	7th
U.S.	182,420	$62,760	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 14, 2024