Hospital for Special Surgery Ranked No. 1 in Orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report

Acclaimed for its commitment to excellence and improving patient care

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Jul 15, 2010, 12:01 ET

NEW YORK, July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospital for Special Surgery has been named the top hospital in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in its 2010 "America's Best Hospitals" issue. Once again the hospital ranked as a leader in rheumatology at number 3 in the nation. In addition, neurology was ranked at number 16.

"We are deeply honored to be recognized as the leading hospital in our specialty areas in the nation," 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, which translates into excellent care for our patients."

Thomas P. Sculco, M.D., surgeon-in-chief of Hospital for Special Surgery added, "This accomplishment reflects a true commitment to excellence by our orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, physiatrists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, nurses and other health-care professionals who work hard to advance the research and education that translate into unsurpassed patient care."

In addition to the recognition by U.S. News & World Report, Hospital for Special Surgery's commitment to quality was recognized by Consumer Reports in 2009, which rated the hospital the best in New York City in a survey of 43 hospitals throughout the five boroughs for patient satisfaction. The New York State Department of Health also found that of the 171 hospitals in New York State that performed hip replacement/revision surgery in 2008, Hospital for Special Surgery was the only hospital with a statistically lower rate of surgical site infection compared to the state average for the procedure.

Last year, more than 25,000 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 and osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. Additionally, the hospital has established a number of innovative specialty centers including the Women's Sports Medicine Center, the Center for Hip Pain and Preservation, the Osteoporosis Prevention Center, the Computer Assisted Surgery Center and the Mary Kirkland Center for Lupus Care. Other special services include the Mary Kirkland Center for Lupus Research, the Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Disease, the Gosden-Robinson Inflammatory Arthritis Center, the Center for Skeletal Dysplasia and the newly opened Quality Research Center.

The Center for Hip Pain and Preservation, launched in September 2009, provides individuals experiencing hip pain with proper diagnosis and treatment. The Quality Research Center, launched in February 2010, enables Hospital for Special Surgery to improve the quality of patient care and patient safety and allows Hospital for Special Surgery to provide evidence-based data and best practices that can be published and disseminated to other institutions.

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, Nets Basketball, 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.

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 rheumatologists, we are committed to improving the lives of patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. By integrating innovative research combined with comprehensive clinical care, we 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."

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. 16 in neurology and No. 18 in geriatrics by U.S. News & World Report (2010), and has received Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. From 2007 to 2010, HSS has been a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award. A member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS provides orthopedic and rheumatologic patient care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. All Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medical College. 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.

SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery