Hospital for Special Surgery Again Ranked No. 1 in Orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report
Hip Resurfacing at Surface HippyPosted on by Patricia Walter
Acclaimed for exceptional patient care and
for its reputation among healthcare professionals
New York – July 16, 2013
U.S. News & World Report has again named Hospital for Special
Surgery the top hospital in the country for orthopedics in its 2013 “Best
Hospitals” survey. The hospital also ranked as a leader in rheumatology at
number four in the nation.
Hospital for Special Surgery has been among the top ranked institutions in
orthopedics and rheumatology for 23 consecutive years.
“We are proud to be recognized nationally as the best in our specialized
fields,” said Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO of Hospital for Special
Surgery. “Our hospital staff consistently meets and exceeds the high standards
that we set for ourselves to provide unsurpassed care and outcomes. People
choose to travel to Hospital for Special Surgery from around the country and the
world for their care because of our incredible culture that translates into a
consistent commitment to 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 six of the past seven years.”
Further reinforcing its reputation for excellence, the hospital’s commitment
to quality was recognized by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS). In addition to providing information about quality of care and patient
satisfaction, the HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and
Systems) Survey is now tied to Medicare reimbursement.
If a hospital scores above a certain level as HSS did, it receives a bonus in
reimbursement for a Medicare patient stay. Special Surgery has surpassed all
hospitals in New York State and is among the highest in the nation. The
pay-for-performance model is part of the federal government’s effort to hold
hospitals financially accountable for patient outcomes.
Reflecting a consistent culture of skilled and compassionate care, Hospital
for Special Surgery received its third Magnet designation from the American
Nurses Credentialing Center. 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 2011, the
most recent data available, Hospital for Special Surgery was the only hospital
with a statistically lower rate of surgical site infection compared to the state
average for four years in a row.
Major professional sports teams continue to choose physicians from Hospital
for Special Surgery’s
Sports
Medicine and Shoulder Service to perform in official capacities. These
include the 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 London Games in 2012.
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.”
Studies show that high-volume hospitals have better orthopedic surgery
outcomes and patients experience fewer complications. Last year, more than
27,000 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 second time, the 2013
“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.
Hospital for Special Surgery currently maintains more than 45 research
registries for conditions ranging from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
to lupus to rheumatoid arthritis. The HSS total joint replacement registry, for
example, contains data from more than 20,000 patients. “Through these
registries, clinicians and researchers collect more than demographic and
clinical information,” said Dr. Sculco. “They also gather patient reports about
outcomes after surgery, such as satisfaction with treatment, quality of life and
return to activities.”
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. 4 in rheumatology, and No. 5 in geriatrics by U.S.News &
World Report (2013-14), 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.