Hospital for Special Surgery Forms Educational Partnership With International Healthcare Leader

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Feb 21, 2012, 01:57 ET

Largest Managed Healthcare Organization in Brazil to Open First Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Rio de Janeiro in Advance of Olympic
Games

NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the world focused on Brazil meeting the challenges of the international sports community for the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a leading Brazilian managed healthcare provider is looking to orthopedic powerhouse Hospital for Special Surgery as a venture partner.

New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery, a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and related specialties, will partner with Amil Par, the largest, most widely-recognized and respected managed healthcare organization in Brazil, to provide educational expertise in connection with the opening of its new orthopedic center, Hospitalys, in Rio de Janeiro, the host city of the Games.

Reinforcing Amil Par's reputation for leadership, Hospitalys plans to open its initial phase during the first quarter of 2012, with
specialization in spine disorders, joint replacement and sports medicine, orthopedic areas for which Hospital for Special Surgery is
renowned.

"We are very pleased to be partnering with Hospitalys in Brazil and to be sharing our clinical, education and research expertise," said Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO, Hospital for Special Surgery. "This global collaboration reflects both of our institutions' dedication to high quality patient care, academic excellence and cutting-edge research in orthopedics."

"Hospital for Special Surgery is the ideal partner for this initiative," said Casio Zandona, CEO/RJ for Amil Par, "as they have the insight and depth of experience in general orthopedics as well as sports medicine that result in best outcomes for our patients."

HSS orthopedists and sports medicine specialists served on the U.S. Olympic Committee medical staff team that covered the Beijing Games in 2008 and the Athens Games in 2004. They look forward to similar roles in the 2012 and 2016 Games. Currently, physicians from Hospital for Special Surgery are official physicians for major professional sports teams including the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Football Giants, New York Mets, New York Knicks, Nets Basketball, New York Liberty Basketball and New York Red Bulls Soccer.

According to Mr. Shapiro, "Athletes and non-athletes alike come from throughout the country and around the world for the extraordinary depth of orthopedic experience and skill they can find here. Our faculty members travel the world sharing best practices, and through this
partnership, HSS will provide its colleagues in Brazil with education and mentorship."

This educational partnership is the beginning of an exchange for both organizations that anticipate an ongoing relationship for future
collaboration.

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. 2 in rheumatology, No. 19 in neurology, and No. 16 in geriatrics by U.S. News & World Report (2011-12), 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.