University of New Mexico Hospital has been a designated cancer center for less than a year, and it's already gained some national praise.

The hospital is No. 46 in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals 2006" listing of cancer hospitals, released in the July 17 issue.

The magazine looked at the nation's 5,189 hospitals and, based on certain criteria, chose the top hospitals in 16 categories. For cancer treatment, 52 hospitals made the magazine's final list, including UNM Hospital.

It's the first time a New Mexico hospital has been ranked in the annual feature, said Cheryl Willman, director of the Cancer Research and Treatment Center.

"We just couldn't be more thrilled," Willman said. "This means our program is on par with the leading programs in the nation."

UNM Hospital's Cancer Research and Treatment Center became a National Cancer Institute-designated facility in September.

The designation came with an $8 million grant from the institute to build on existing programs. Prestige from the designation also helps the center recruit high-quality doctors.

The hospital scored well in several categories that determined its listing in the magazine:

• It received 8 out of 8 for patient and community services, which include things like translators, pain management and infection-isolation rooms.

• It got 4 out of 5 points for technology.

• Its cancer mortality rate is 0.67, which is the ratio of in-hospital deaths compared with expected deaths. The lower the number is below 1.0, the better.

• It has a ratio of two nurses per patient.

• It scored only a 0.3 for reputation, which is a ranking given by board-certified physicians.

The top hospital in the listing is Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

It scored the same or higher than UNM in every category but one - mortality rate. Its mortality rate is 0.77.

The low mortality rate is something the cancer center is especially proud of, Willman said.

"Some of the health care insurers coming into New Mexico have commented on how well we're doing in that category," she said.

Willman said she expects to improve the hospital's score in reputation and other categories so that it makes the top 30 next year.

The new $83 million, 190,000-square-foot Cancer Treatment Center, which breaks ground late this fall, should also improve UNM's ranking, she said.

That facility will include new cancer imaging technologies, let doctors use more advanced surgical techniques and create an expanded transplant program. It should be finished in 2008, Willman said.