North Shore-LIJ Hospitals Ranked by US News & World Report Among Nation's Best in Five Clinical Areas

GREAT NECK, N.Y., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three North Shore-LIJ Health System hospitals – Huntington Hospital in Suffolk County, North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset, NY, and Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan – were ranked among the nation's top 50 hospitals in five clinical areas in US News & World Report's 23rd annual Best Hospitals edition released today.

This year's Best Hospital's report highlights more than 720 of the nation's nearly 4,800 hospitals, with only 148 hospitals ranked nationally in at least one of 16 adult medical specialties.

Huntington Hospital was recognized for the first time in US News' Best Hospitals report, ranking nationally in the following three clinical areas: gastroenterology (43^rd), ear, nose and throat (44^th) and geriatrics (50^th). NSUH was recognized for the first time for its excellence in neurology and neurosurgery, placing 48^th in the nation.  NSUH also ranked 49^th in the country for gastroenterology.  In addition, Lenox Hill was ranked 34^th in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery.

In addition to their national rankings, Huntington, NSUH and Lenox Hill were among eight North Shore-LIJ hospitals receiving a total of 44 "high-performing" designations  for their clinical performance -- the other five facilities were Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, NY, Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY, Forest Hills Hospital, Staten Island University Hospital and Glen Cove Hospital.

"In US News' latest hospital report, North Shore-LIJ demonstrates it can rank among the best hospitals in the nation in multiple specialties, providing our patients with quality care and access to top clinical teams across the New York metropolitan area," said Jeremy Boal, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer of North Shore-LIJ.

In each specialty in which a hospital was a candidate, it received a US News score from 0 to 100 that was based on four elements:  reputation, patient survival, patient safety and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. After all hospitals that met the benchmark in a specialty were scored, the top 25 percent were identified and the top 50 performers were then ranked.

Hospitals that placed within the top 25 percent but did not rank nationally received "high-performing" designations. North Shore-LIJ hospitals collectively received "high performing" designations in all 12 data-driven specialty areas, including: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, ENT, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology. (The four other specialties were evaluated solely on their reputation among specialists – ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology).

"Huntington has never received such a high US News ranking before and we are honored to be listed among the nation's top hospitals in several clinical areas," said Kevin Lawlor, president and chief executive officer of Huntington Hospital.  "For nearly a century, Huntington's staff has been providing our community with the best possible healthcare and this distinction underscores our commitment to excellence and our goal to continually enhance the quality of patient care."

"We are extremely proud that the Cushing Neuroscience Institute's neurosurgery and neurology programs based at North Shore University Hospital have been recognized as one of the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report," said Raj Narayan, MD, chair of neurosurgery and director of the Cushing Neuroscience Institute.   "This is North Shore University Hospital's (NSUH) inaugural inclusion on US News' prestigious neurology/neurosurgery list, reflecting the excellent service provided by our dedicated physicians, nurses and support staff to each of our patients," added Ronald Kanner, MD, chair of neurology at NSUH.

David Bernstein, MD, chief of hepatology and acting chief of gastroenterology at NSUH, said the Division of Gastroenterology and its staff were proud to receive a spot on US News' Best Hospitals list for the second consecutive year.  "We provide outstanding state-of-the-art care to our patients in the communities we serve. The high quality of care we provide could not be done without the excellent staff in our division," said Dr. Bernstein.

Lenox Hill Hospital has been ranked nationally on US News' list for cardiology and cardiac surgery for six of the past nine years.  "Being recognized in the top 50 cardiology and heart surgery programs in America by US News and World Report indicates Lenox Hill's reputation and accomplishments extends from coast to coast," said Gregory Fontana, MD, the hospital's chair of cardiothoracic surgery.  "With the support and significant investment in Lenox Hill Hospital's cardiology and heart surgery programs by the North Shore-LIJ Health System, we are assured to remain a leader in cardiac care for our community and beyond."

Complete rankings and methodology are available at:
www.usnews.com/besthospitals.

In addition to Lenox Hill, NSUH and Huntington Hospital's national rankings, North Shore-LIJ's Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park, NY, was ranked in US News' "Best Children's Hospital" list in June, placing among the top 50 children's hospital in seven pediatric specialty areas.

SOURCE North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System