Hospital for Special Surgery Again Ranked No. 1 In Orthopedics By U.S. News & World Report

NEW YORK, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named Hospital for Special Surgery the top hospital in the country for orthopedics in its 2012 "America's Best Hospitals" survey.  Once again, the hospital ranked as a leader in rheumatology at number three in the nation. In addition, neurology was ranked at No. 10.

"We are deeply honored to be recognized nationally as the best in our specialized fields," said Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO of Hospital for Special Surgery. "Patients and peers appreciate our commitment to quality and to providing an environment for excellence in patient care and safety."

Thomas P. Sculco, M.D., surgeon-in-chief of Hospital for Special Surgery added, "This is a tremendous honor for all who work at HSS and who constantly endeavor to advance the research and education that translate into unsurpassed patient care. We are very proud of our orthopedic surgery department who have been ranked number one for five of the past six years."

In addition to the recognition by U.S. News & World Report, 52 physicians from Hospital for Special Surgery were recently named as some of the "Best Doctors" in New York City by New York magazine. In November 2011, the American Nurses Credentialing Center announced that Hospital for Special Surgery received its third Magnet designation. Accepted throughout the healthcare industry as the gold standard for nursing, the honor makes the hospital the first in New York State to achieve this third consecutive designation.

The New York State Department of Health also found that of the 167 hospitals in New York State that performed hip replacement/revision surgery in 2010, Hospital for Special Surgery was, for the third year in a row, the only hospital with a statistically lower rate of surgical site infection compared to the state average.

Currently, physicians from Hospital for Special Surgery's Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service perform in official capacities for major professional sports teams including the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Football Giants, New York Mets, New York Knicks, New York Liberty Basketball and New York Red Bulls Soccer. HSS sports medicine specialists also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee medical staff team that covered the Beijing Games in 2008 and will do the same for the London Games this month.

Another testament to Hospital for Special Surgery's excellence and consistency is its high ranking in rheumatology. Mary K. Crow, M.D., physician-in-chief and chairman of the Division of Rheumatology explained that, "As specialists in autoimmune and inflammation diseases, our patients trust us to be able to relieve their pain and to use our expertise to offer individualized recommendations and advice." By integrating the latest research with comprehensive clinical care, Dr. Crow and colleagues work to "provide the best possible outcomes for our patients with challenging diseases such as lupus, as well as those with inflammatory or degenerative arthritis."

Last year, nearly 26,000 surgeries were performed at Hospital for Special Surgery.  Areas of expertise include joint replacement, spine surgery, sports medicine, orthopedic trauma, hand surgery, foot and ankle surgery, pediatric orthopedics, limb lengthening, osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.

Hospital for Special Surgery also received, for the first time, the 2012 "Gallup Great Workplace Award" and is the only hospital in the Northeast to achieve this recognition.  According to Gallup, this award recognizes the best-performing organizations for their special ability to create an engaged workplace culture.

About U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals"
U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" is a resource for consumers seeking the highest quality care in 16 medical specialties. With more than 5,000 hospitals evaluated nationwide, rankings are based on reputation and measures of quality, such as patient volumes and mortality rates as well as nursing care and technology services.

About Hospital for Special Surgery
Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics, No. 3 in rheumatology, No. 10 in neurology and No. 5 in geriatrics by U.S. News & World Report (2012-13), and is the first hospital in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center three consecutive times. HSS has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. From 2007 to 2011, HSS has been a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award. HSS is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College and as such all Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are faculty of Weill Cornell. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.

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SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery