Contact: Betty Olt /Terry Lynam
516-465-2600
bolt@nshs.edu / tlynam@nshs.edu

MANHASSET, NY – US News & World Report, in its “America’s Best Hospitals” issue this week, has recognized North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in two specialty areas -- geriatric services and gastroenterology.

For 2011-12, US News & World Report ranked hospitals nationwide in 16 different medical specialties. Hospitals were evaluated based on reputation, death rates, patient safety, and other care-related indicators such as nursing services and technology. Out of 4,825 hospitals, US News determined that only 140 hospitals performed well enough to rank in any specialty area.

“North Shore University Hospital is proud to be ranked among the nation’s top facilities in geriatrics and gastroenterology in US News & World Report’s prestigious “America’s Best Hospitals” list, said Susan Somerville, RN, NSUH’s executive director. “This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our clinicians and staff to continually provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve.”

This was the first time that US News has recognized NSUH for its gastroenterology services, ranking the hospital 46th in the nation. The Division of Gastroenterology provides expertise in the areas of disorders of the digestive tract, the liver and nutrition. "We are very proud of the national recognition of the clinical care services provided by our Division of Gastroenterology ,” said David Bernstein, MD , chief of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at NSUH and LIJ Medical Center. “It is an honor shared by all the doctors, allied health care professionals and staff within the division whose common goal is to provide quality, personalized, state-of-the-art care in a patient-friendly environment."

For the second consecutive year, US News recognized NSUH for its geriatric services, ranking the hospital 38th in the country (up from 45th place last year) for its expertise in treating the special physical and emotional needs of older adults. “The Division of Geriatrics is proud to be ranked by US News & World Report for the second time among the country’s top hospitals for geriatric care,” said Howard Guzik, MD , chief of geriatrics at NSUH, and medical director of The Stern Family Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation. “The national ranking reflects the compassionate and quality care provided by our multidisciplinary team – physicians, nurses, social workers, health professionals and support staff -- to patients and their family members.”

In addition to NSUH’s ranking, Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park was ranked in US News’ “Best Children’s Hospital” list in May, placing among the top 50 children’s hospitals in all of the 10 different pediatric specialty areas.

The “Best Hospitals” rankings are online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals. The rankings, annually published by US News for the past 22 years, will also be featured in the US News Best Hospitals guidebook, available August 30.