Houston Medical Center was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for the second year in a row by Healthgrades, a source of hospital quality ratings.

“America’s Best Hospitals is Healthgrades’ highest distinction,” according to the Healthgrades website. “These hospitals exhibit exceptional, comprehensive and consistent quality year over year. Simply put, patients are more likely to have a successful treatment without major complications -- and have a lower chance of dying -- at America’s Best Hospitals.”

To be named to the list, hospitals must first be designated a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence, the top 5 percent in the nation, according to the Healthgrades report. Then, hospital conditions and procedures are evaluated and rated, and year-over-year performance is considered.

“Houston Medical Center and the entire Houston Healthcare team are proud of this recognition because it signifies the dedication and commitment of our staff and physicians to providing quality health care on a daily basis,” Cary Martin, chief executive officer for Houston Healthcare, said in a news release. “We work diligently to identify areas where we can improve our quality initiatives and patient safety measures. By consistently looking at the way we deliver care, it allows us to provide enhanced care for all our patients and their families.”

Three other hospitals in Georgia received the 2013 distinction: Piedmont Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville; Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta; and Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, which was designated a top 50 hospital.