U.S. News & World Report Ranks HackensackUMC as the Number One Hospital in NJ

HACKENSACK, N.J., July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report today reported that Hackensack University Medical Center is the number one hospital in New Jersey and one of the top three New York metro area hospitals.

The strong rankings for HackensackUMC appear in the 2013-14 U.S. News Best Hospitals, published online today.

"This year's rankings demonstrate, once again, that New Jersey residents don't need to cross the Hudson to get the best possible healthcare," said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Health Network. "Further, our ranking in the top three hospitals in the entire NY Metro area, among some of the best hospitals in the world, suggests residents throughout the region should actively consider HackensackUMC for their health needs." 

Climbing from number four to three in metro New York, the hospital also garnered 10 national rankings—up from the last year's lists.

In addition to the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital recently being named among the top 50 best children's hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery, HackensackUMC received nine national rankings in this year's review.  They are:

• Cancer
• Cardiology & Heart Surgery
• Ear, Nose & Throat
• Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
• Geriatrics
• Neurology & Neurosurgery
• Orthopedics
• Pulmonology
• Urology

The medical center was also listed as high-performing in the New York metro area in: Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gynecology, and Nephrology.

"These rankings are not only a testament to the world-class care our HackensackUMC team implements, but also reflects the supportive and encouraging environment that HackensackUMC provides to its medical team," said Ihor S. Sawczuk, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer.

U.S. News evaluates hospitals in 16 adult specialties. In most specialties, it ranks the nation's top 50 hospitals and recognizes other high-performing hospitals that provide care at nearly the level of their nationally ranked peers.  The Best Hospital rankings, now in their 24th year, recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients.

"A hospital that emerges from our analysis as one of the best has much to be proud of," said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings editor. "Only about 15 percent of hospitals are recognized for their high performance as among their region's best. Just 3 percent of all hospitals earn a national ranking in any specialty."

U.S. News publishes Best Hospitals to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age. Objective measures such as patient survival and safety data, the adequacy of nurse staffing levels and other data largely determined the rankings in most specialties.

The specialty rankings and data were produced for U.S. News by RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Using the same data, U.S. News produced the state and metro rankings.

The rankings have been published at http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals and will appear in print in the U.S. News Best Hospitals 2014 guidebook, available in bookstores and on newsstands August 27.

About Hackensack University Medical Center
HackensackUMC, a nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. It is the flagship hospital of the Hackensack University Health Network, one of the largest health networks in the state comprised of 1,140 beds, nearly 10,000 employees and 2,200 credentialed physicians. HackensackUMC was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey and one of the top three New York metro area hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report, and has received 10 national rankings in: Cancer; Cardiology & Heart Surgery; Ear, Nose & Throat; Gastroenterology & GI Surgery; Geriatrics; Neurology & Neurosurgery; Orthopedics; Pulmonology; Urology; and the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital ranked as one of the Top 50 Best Children's Hospitals for Neurology and Neurosurgery in the 2013-14 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, is one of Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals™ for seven years in a row, and received the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ 11 years in a row. The medical center has also been named a Leapfrog Top Hospital, and 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, visit: www.HackensackUMC.org.   

SOURCE Hackensack University Medical Center