Designations and Distinctions: University campus

Our primary and specialty care is provided by experts from all medical specialties, delivered in a team-based, patient-centered environment and with a commitment to evidence-based practice, outstanding service, and exceptional outcomes.

UI Health Care is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the state’s top medical center and one of the nation’s best hospitals, with several of its specialties ranked among the top 50 in the country. Stead Family Children’s Hospital is Iowa’s only children’s hospital nationally ranked by U.S. News.

UI Health Care was first in Iowa to be designated a Magnet Hospital (2004) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the first in Iowa to be re-designated four times (2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023).

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Iowa. This distinction recognizes our ability to offer Iowans more cancer treatment options—including clinical trials of new therapies—than most U.S. cancer centers.

Since 2010, UI Health Care has been named one of the nation’s “most wired” hospitals for its use of health care technology by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has certified UI Health Care as a Level 1 Trauma Center for adult patients. ACS also has certified Stead Family Children’s Hospital as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center and Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center.

Our Burn Treatment Center is one of 77 burn centers in the U.S. (and the only center in Iowa) verified by the American Burn Association.

UI Health Care is designated as a Wellmark Blue Distinction Center in the following areas:

• Bariatric surgery
• Cardiac care
• Knee and hip
• Spine
• Adult allogeneic bone marrow/stem cell transplant
• Adult autologous bone marrow/stem cell transplant
• Adult combination kidney-liver transplant
• Adult heart transplant
• Adult liver transplant
• Adult lung transplant
• Adult pancreas transplant
• Adult simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant 

UI Health Care has been recognized by The Joint Commission in the following areas:

• Joint Commission certification  
  • Cardiac valve repair and replacement
  • Aortic aneurysm
• Joint Commission advanced certification  
  • Advanced comprehensive stroke center
  • Ventricular assist device
  • Advanced palliative care
• Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval
  • Primary stroke center
  • Adult supportive and palliative care
  • Pediatric pain and palliative care