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VICTORVILLE — Desert Valley Hospital received another national honor on Wednesday, this one from Healthgrades. The Denver-based company reviews hospitals, doctors and health care providers and makes that information available to consumers via its website.

Staff held a ceremony at noon Wednesday to reveal Desert Valley was the only hospital in San Bernardino County to receive the Healthgrades 2015 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence.

"If all the hospitals in the country were at Desert Valley Hospital's level, more than 163,000 lives could have been saved," Healthgrades Maggie Foley said in presenting the award to Desert Valley Hospital founder and Prime Healthcare CEO Dr. Prem Reddy. "Seven hospitals in San Bernardino County were eligible for this designation, but only Desert Valley Hospital earned it."

Foley said Healthgrades' clinical analysis found Desert Valley Hospital ranked in the top 5 percent nationally in 21 of 32 categories. Medicare patient data from 2011-13 was used for the analysis, specifically focusing on outcomes in terms of mortality rates and complication rates, Foley said.

Healthgrades ratings are from one to five stars, with five being best. Foley said Desert Valley earned five stars in 11 categories, and had no categories of one star. "Maybe 10 percent of the hospitals in the nation can say that," she said.

"This is not achieved by accident, and we commend Desert Valley Hospital for achieving it through its commitment to its core values," Foley said. "This recognition is validation of the effort and focus that Desert Valley's dedicated teams and staff have given to their mission of endeavoring to provide comprehensive, quality healthcare in a convenient, compassionate and cost effective manner."

"The praise goes to the employees, nurses, doctors and the governing board," Dr. Reddy said. "It's not one person's work."

"I'm grateful and proud to be part of this team," Desert Valley CEO Fred Hunter said.

Desert Valley has been named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation five times by Thomson Reuters and among the top 10 hospitals in the state by PacifiCare's Quality Index, Dr. Reddy said.

"That is pretty unique," he said. "But of course this is equally good."

Dr. Reddy revealed his Prime Healthcare Services, which has 38 hospitals in 11 states, will be adding four more hospitals by early January.

Victorville City Councilman Ryan McEachron and Curtis Green, field representative for 1st District Supervisor Robert Lovingood, also had high praise for Dr. Reddy and the team at Desert Valley Hospital.

"It's a tremendous honor and well-deserved acknowledgement of hard work," McEachron said.

"Dr. Reddy, your name is synonomous with excellence not only in the High Desert, but across the country," Green said. "We're proud to call you one of our own."