GREAT NECK, NY — In the current issue of US News and World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” , The Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks was recognized as one of the nation’s top psychiatric facilities, while North Shore University Hospital  was ranked among best for geriatric services.

For 2010-2011, US News and World Report ranked hospitals in 16 different specialties. Hospitals were evaluated based on reputation, death rates, patient safety, and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. Out of 4,852 hospitals US News determined that only 152 performed well enough to rank in any specialty. The 2010-2011 Best Hospitals rankings were produced for US News by RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

“Zucker Hillside’s recognition by US News and World Report is an indicator of our strong efforts towards continually working to serve our patient’s needs,” said John Kane, MD, vice president of behavioral health and chairman of psychiatry at the North Shore-LIJ Health System. “It is a testament to the quality of our services and the positive impact that we’ve had on the lives of our patients. It also reflects the impact that our academic efforts have had on the field as a whole.”

The Zucker Hillside Hospital originally opened over 80 years ago with only 40 beds. Today, the facility is licensed for 223 beds and is recognized as a pioneer in the diagnosis, treatment and research of behavioral health disorders. This is the third time in four years that Zucker Hillside, which was ranked 19th in the nation for its expertise in psychiatric services, has been listed in US News and World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” issue.

This was the first time that US News has recognized North Shore University Hospital for its geriatric services, ranking the hospital 45th in the nation for its expertise in that rapidly growing area. Howard Guzik, MD, chief of geriatrics at North Shore University Hospital, and medical director of The Stern Family Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation , said, “North Shore University Hospital's exceptional ranking is a reflection of the quality of care provided by our multidisciplinary approach to geriatric services. It is truly a reflection of the teamwork and dedication that characterizes our entire staff of clinicians and other support staff.”

Earlier this summer, US News and World Report’s “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” issue ranked North Shore-LIJ’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York among the nation’s best.

To view a full listing of US News and World Report’s America’s Best Hospitals visit: http://health.usnews.com/health/best-hospitals.

About North Shore-LIJ Health System
The nation's second-largest, non-profit, secular healthcare system, the North Shore-LIJ Health System cares for people of all ages throughout Long Island, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island – a service area encompassing more than seven million people. The winner of the National Quality Forum’s 2010 National Quality Healthcare Award, the North Shore-LIJ Health System consists of 15 hospitals, 17 long-term care facilities, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, three trauma centers, five home health agencies, a hospice network and dozens of outpatient centers. In addition, North Shore-LIJ is partnering with Hofstra University to develop a new medical school, which will admit its first class in 2011. North Shore-LIJ’s owned facilities house about 5,600 beds, employ more than 10,000 nurses and have affiliations with more than 9,000 physicians. Its workforce of about 42,000 is the largest on Long Island and the ninth largest in New York City. For more information, go to www.northshorelij.com.

Contacts: Terry Lynam/Brian Mulligan
516-465-2600
tlynam@nshs.edu / bmulliga@nshs.edu