HackensackUMC Achieves Highest Distinction as One of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals -- Seven Years in a Row

HACKENSACK, N.J., Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hackensack University Medical Center today announced that is has been named one of the nation's 50 Best hospitals, according to Healthgrades, the leading online resource that helps consumers search, evaluate, compare and connect with physicians and hospitals.  This distinction, which was achieved based on clinical performance over seven years, places HackensackUMC in the top one percent of hospitals nationwide, out of the nearly 4,500 hospitals evaluated. No other hospital in New York, New Jersey and New England has received this distinction seven years in a row.

HackensackUMC's clinical results have also made it the only hospital in the nation to be listed among Healthgrades® America's Best 100 Hospitals in 10 different areas, and is the only hospital in New York, New Jersey and New England to receive the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 11 years in a row.

 "We are tremendously proud to be listed once again as one of the nation's best hospitals," said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Health Network. "HackensackUMC is committed to providing the highest level of clinical care, producing the safest results for our patients. With nearly 4,500 hospitals evaluated, this distinction speaks directly to the accomplishments of our nationally recognized medical staff and our award winning healthcare team."

The previously released American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, highlighted that significant variation in outcomes can exist not only across our nation but specifically within a particular region. For example, out of the 67 hospitals that were evaluated for treatment of Heart Failure in the New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ area there was a wide variation in hospital quality as measured by risk adjusted mortality rates (from 1.4% on the low end to 1.3% on the high end). HackensackUMC is among the hospitals with the lowest risk-adjusted mortality rates providing patients in the New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ  area with measurably superior quality of care. While many of our nation's hospitals are eligible to be on this list, HackensackUMC was one of two out of four eligible in the New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ area to receive this designation.

 "Hospitals earn this distinction by providing better than expected outcomes across a broad spectrum of conditions and procedures and maintaining these superior results over an extended period of time," said Evan Marks, EVP Informatics and Strategy. "As such, by selecting a hospital on the Healthgrades America's 50 Best hospital list, consumers can expect a commitment to exceptional quality and clinical care that is amongst the best in the nation."

For more information about Healthgrades, to download a full copy of the report or to get information about hospital and physician quality, visit: www.Healthgrades.com today.  For access to interactive materials on this announcement, please go to: http://www.nextworks.com/client/healthgrades/hackensack_cc.html.

About Hackensack University Medical Center
HackensackUMC, a nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, New Jersey, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. This 775-bed facility has created an entire campus of care, including: the Heart & Vascular Hospital, the John Theurer Cancer Center, the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, and the Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey and one of the top four New York metro area hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report, and has received nine national rankings in: Cancer; Cardiology & Heart Surgery; Ear, Nose & Throat; Gastroenterology; Geriatrics; Neurology & Neurosurgery; Orthopedics; Urology; and the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital ranked as one of the Top 25 Best Children's Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery in the 2012-13 Best Children's Hospitals list. HackensackUMC is among Healthgrades® America's Best 100 Hospitals in 10 different areas – more than any other hospital in the nation, and received the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 11 years in a row. The medical center has also been named one of the Truven Health Analytics 100 Top Hospitals®, a Leapfrog Top Hospital, and one of America's 50 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades® for seven years in a row. HackensackUMC received 19 Gold Seals of Approval™ by the Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence. HackensackUMC is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls, and remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events. To learn more about one of the nation's 50 best hospitals, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.   

Healthgrades Hospital Quality Distinctions

Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance for nearly 4,500 hospitals across the nation in 27 procedures and conditions annually. Healthgrades.com provides information on objective measures of hospital performance, which allows consumers to compare their local hospitals online at www.healthgrades.com/find-a-hospital. Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance for nearly every hospital in the nation; no hospital can opt-in or opt-out of being evaluated, and no hospital pays to be evaluated. Mortality and complication rates are risk adjusted, which takes into account the differing severity of illness at different hospitals and allows for hospitals to be compared fairly.

About Healthgrades

Healthgrades, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, is the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. More than 225 million visitors use the Healthgrades websites to search, evaluate, compare and connect with physicians and hospitals that best meet their treatment needs.  Consumers are empowered through use of the Healthgrades proprietary information about clinical outcomes, satisfaction, safety, and health conditions to make more informed healthcare decisions and take action.  For more information please visit www.healthgrades.com and www.bettermedicine.com.

SOURCE Hackensack University Medical Center