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Northwell Cardiac Programs Named Among America’s Best By Healthgrades

Four Northwell Health hospitals have been named among America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery by Healthgrades, a leading resource for consumers to find a hospital or doctor. Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore and Staten Island University Hospital were each recognized as top cardiac destinations nationally, according to a 2024 analysis by Healthgrades at 4,500 hospitals in 16 of the most common specialty care areas.

The four hospitals, in conjunction with the Northwell Cardiovascular Institute, also earned recognition as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention, alongside Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park. Northwell delivered more cardiac care than any other health system in New York State in 2022 with 660,000 ambulatory visits, 38,000 inpatient discharges, 8,700 coronary interventions, 3,900 thoracic surgeries, 3,300 cardiac surgeries and 2,800 cardiac ablations.

“I’m proud to say that no one delivers more cardiothoracic care – or does it better in the region – than Northwell’s team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and the entire cardiovascular team of providers,” said Alan Hartman, MD, senior vice president and executive director of Cardiothoracic Services at Northwell Health. “These Healthgrades accolades showcase the depth and breadth of the amazing work being done all over the health system.”

Lenox Hill Hospital, named among the top 5 percent nationally for Overall Cardiac Services, received several accolades. The Upper East Side institution was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care, the only hospital in the state to earn the honor for the 11th straight year (2014-2024). Lenox Hill earned Healthgrades’ Cardiac Care Excellence Award™, Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award™ and Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™. Lenox Hill also was selected as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgeries and earned Healthgrades’ Gastrointestinal Surgery Excellence Award™ and 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award™.

Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) is the lone facility in Richmond County to earn both 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery and 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Procedures. SIUH received the Coronary Intervention Excellence Award for the sixth straight year (2019-2024) and Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award for the fourth year in a row (2021-2024).

The Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), the only hospital in Nassau County named to the 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery list and the only full-service cardiac hospital on Long Island, was selected one of the 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention for the 13th consecutive year (2012-2024) and is rated among the top 5 percent nationally in that category. NSUH received the Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award™ and Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™ and 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award™.

Elsewhere in Nassau, Long Island Jewish Medical Center earned Healthgrades’ Coronary Intervention Excellence Award for the 17th year in a row (2008-2024).

“Our incredible, hard-working, multi-disciplinary teams work seamlessly to provide the best cardiac care at the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital and across the Northwell System. We are laser-focused on quality as well as patient and provider experience and accolades such as these highlight our great outcomes,” said Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, senior vice president of cardiology, co-director of the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital, chair of cardiology at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center at Northwell Health. “We take such pride in our care and treat patients like they’re part of our family – and in some cases, they are.”

In Suffolk County, South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) earned the 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery for the seventh year in a row (2018-2024), the only hospital in county to do so. And for the second straight year, SSUH was named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and among the top 5 percent of hospitals nationally for Overall Cardiac Services. In addition, SSUH earned 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Procedures honors and received the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™.

Also in Suffolk, Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead earned Healthgrades’ Coronary Care Excellence award for the third straight year (2022-2024) and is among the top 10 percent nationally in Cardiology Services and Coronary Interventional Procedures. Peconic Bay also earned awards for Pulmonary Care Excellence and Gastrointestinal Care Excellence. Meanwhile, Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson received the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award™ for the ninth straight year (2016-2024).

In Westchester, Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco received the Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™, making its program among the top 10 percent in the nation. It also earned the Critical Care Excellence Award™. Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow was one of just four facilities in the state to earn the Healthgrades’ Surgical Care Excellence Award™ and received the 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award™.

“These distinctions reflect the outstanding clinical performance of Northwell’s hospitals and distinguish them as among the country’s leading hospitals,” said Peter Silver, MD, senior vice president, chief quality officer and associate chief medical officer at Northwell. “While our hospitals are recognized as elite nationally, this is great news for the communities in which we serve. Having complex medical and surgical care available in your backyard can make all the difference.”

Healthgrades evaluates hospitals solely on clinical outcomes: risk-adjusted mortality and complications.  By focusing on what matters most, patient outcomes, the Healthgrades ratings provide critical feedback for both patients and hospitals.  By offering easy access to objective performance measures, Healthgrades gives consumers the information they need to find a hospital that excels in providing the care they need.  And, by shining a light on strengths and weaknesses, the Healthgrades ratings help direct hospitals to opportunities for clinical improvement. The 2024 hospital assessment evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for 35 common conditions and procedures.

The 2024 Healthgrades analysis revealed that the variation in performance among hospitals continues to widen, making it increasingly important to seek care at top-rated programs. From 2020-2022, patients treated at hospitals among America’s 50 Best for Cardiac Surgery have, on average, a 57.5 percent lower risk of dying than if treated in hospitals that did not receive the award.* Additionally, patients treated at hospitals among America’s 100 Best for Coronary Intervention have, on average, a 48.8 percent lower risk of dying than if treated in hospitals that did not receive the award.*

* Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for 2020 through 2022 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Click here to view the complete 2024 Specialty Awards and Ratings Methodology.

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