Hospital for Special Surgery Again Ranked No. 1 in Orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report - 2013

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 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 “Best Hospitals”
U.S. News & World Report’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.