BELLEVILLE — A leading online source for consumer health care research has ranked Memorial Hospital among the nation's best for clinical excellence for the second year in a row.

The Belleville hospital announced Tuesday that Denver-based national independent health care rating service Healthgrades named Memorial among the top 5 percent U.S. hospitals for clinical care, or care for those facing life-threatening illnesses. This is the second consecutive year that the metro-east hospital has earned this distinction.

Hospital president and chief executive officer Mark Turner said this designation reveals that consumers are recognizing Memorial's commitment to continuously monitor outcomes and re-invest in technology to provide high-quality care.

"We are very pleased to be named a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence by Healthgrades," Turner said in a released statement. "This distinction is a testament to our employees and medical staff and their ongoing commitment to provide our patients with the best clinical experience possible."

According to the Healthgrades study, Memorial Hospital was one of 7 out of 19 eligible hospitals in the St. Louis area to receive this designation. Alton Memorial in Alton was the only other metro-east hospital recognized. Those hospitals to make the list from across the river were Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Peters, Mo., Christian Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake St. Louis, Mo. and St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo.

Contact reporter Will Buss at wbuss@bnd.com or 239-2526.