Introduction
Healthcare choices are of utmost importance, and in a bustling city like New York City, having access to accurate hospital rankings can significantly impact patient decisions. This article delves into the various hospital rankings in New York City, including safety grades, best hospital designations for specific conditions, and rankings for rehabilitation. By understanding these rankings, patients can make more informed choices about where to seek medical care.
Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Grades
Fall 2023 Grades
The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization focused on patient safety, releases safety grades for about 3,000 general acute - care hospitals across the United States twice a year. In the fall of 2023, the group released grades for New York hospitals. The grades range from A to F, based on up to 22 evidence - based measures related to preventing errors, injuries, and infections.
In New York, the breakdown of grades was as follows:
- 16 hospitals were ranked A
- 22 hospitals received a B
- 79 hospitals were given a C
- 28 hospitals earned a D grade
- 2 hospitals were given an F
Heather Telford, the chief nursing officer at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in the town of Tonawanda, one of the 16 hospitals that received an A grade (and its 20th consecutive A), emphasized the importance of patient safety. “When a patient comes to us for services, they should be able to leave without any kind of harm coming to them. It takes everyone focused on the patient in order to prevent harm,” she said.
Katie Stewart, the director of healthcare ratings at the Leapfrog Group, explained that the grades are a composite based on public data and the group’s survey. “It’s actually a composite, what we might call composite a letter grade that's based on up to 22 evidence - based measures. Some part of that is what you reference healthcare - associated infections happening in the inpatient care space, but we are also looking at processes and structures that can be used to prevent errors, injuries and infections,” she said. The measures include medication safety, staffing in the ICU, patient experience, and hospital - acquired conditions.
Spring 2024 Grades in New York City
In the spring of 2024, the Leapfrog Group released hospital safety grades again. In New York City, several hospitals were given top safety grades. Two hospitals that received the top letter grade of A were NYU Langone Hospitals and NYU Langone Hospital - Brooklyn (both also had an A in fall 2023). Overall, New York City had:
- Seven hospitals that earned “B” grades
- 24 hospitals that earned “C” grades
- Eight hospitals that earned a “D” grade
The Leapfrog Group also ranked the 10 states with the highest number of “A” hospitals, with Utah topping the list, followed by Virginia, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Alaska, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Maine. Nationwide, hospitals showed improvements over their fall 2023 performance in both reducing hospital - acquired infections and improving patient experiences. However, “patient safety remains a crisis - level hazard in healthcare,” according to Leapfrog Group president and CEO Leah Binder.
U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals 2024–2025”
NYC Health + Hospitals Recognition
U.S. News & World Report is a global leader in quality rankings. In its 2024 - 2025 “Best Hospitals” list, all NYC Health + Hospitals’ hospitals were recognized. The ranking recognizes the hospitals for excellence in treating conditions including heart failure, heart attack, hip fracture, kidney failure, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The hospitals were selected out of nearly 5,000 hospitals across 15 specialties and 20 procedures and conditions. Hospitals awarded a “best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care, and patient experience.
The hospitals that received the recognition and the conditions for which they were recognized are as follows:
Facility | Procedures & Conditions |
---|---|
NYC Health + Hospitals / Bellevue | Heart failure, heart attack |
NYC Health + Hospitals / Elmhurst | Heart failure, heart attack, hip fracture, kidney failure |
NYC Health + Hospitals / Harlem | Heart failure |
NYC Health + Hospitals / Jacobi | Heart failure, diabetes, kidney failure |
NYC Health + Hospitals / Kings County | Heart failure, kidney failure |
NYC Health + Hospitals / Lincoln | Heart failure, COPD, kidney failure |
NYC Health + Hospitals / Metropolitan | Heart failure |
NYC Health + Hospitals / South Brooklyn Health | Heart failure |
NYC Health + Hospitals / Queens | Heart failure, diabetes |
NYC Health + Hospitals / Woodhull | COPD, diabetes |
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “New Yorkers deserve high - quality, accessible health care — and thanks to the tireless work of our NYC Health + Hospitals staff, we are helping deliver it to our city’s residents. This certification reflects the extraordinary efforts of our health care professionals who work every single day to support their fellow New Yorkers and keep our city healthy.” NYC Health + Hospitals president and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD, also noted that it was an honor for the hospitals to be featured on the list, as it was a testament to the dedication of the healthcare workers.
Overall 2024 - 2025 Best Hospitals
The 2024 - 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” evaluates nearly 5,000 hospitals in more than 30 medical and surgical services. It highlights 466 best regional hospitals, ranked in states and major metro areas across the U.S. For the first time, it also identified best regional hospitals for equitable access, highlighting 98 hospitals for their success in caring for patients from historically underserved communities. Twenty hospitals with exceptional breadth and depth of excellence make up the honor roll.
In selected specialties, the top five hospitals include:
Cancer
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX)
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY)
- Mayo Clinic - Rochester (Rochester, MN)
- Dana - Farber / Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (Boston, MA)
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center (Duarte, CA)
Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery
- Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH)
- NYU Langone Hospitals (New York, NY)
- Mayo Clinic - Rochester (Rochester, MN)
- Mount Sinai Hospital (New York, NY)
- New York - Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia and Cornell (New York, NY)
Neurology & Neurosurgery
- NYU Langone Hospitals (New York, NY)
- Mayo Clinic - Rochester (Rochester, MN)
- UCSF Health - UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco, CA)
- New York - Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia and Cornell (New York, NY)
- Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, MD)
Orthopedics
- Hospital for Special Surgery (New York, NY)
- Mayo Clinic - Rochester (Rochester, MN)
- NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital (New York, NY)
- New York - Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia and Cornell (New York, NY)
- Cedars - Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)
In New York, the hospitals on the 2024 - 2025 best hospitals honor roll are Mount Sinai Hospital, New York - Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia and Cornell, North Shore University Hospital at Northwell Health, and NYU Langone Hospitals.
Rehabilitation Hospital Rankings in New York
U.S. News provides rankings for hospitals that see many challenging rehabilitation patients in New York, NY. These hospitals are evaluated on patient outcomes, nurse staffing, services, and more, and are listed according to their rehabilitation score.
Some of the top - ranked rehabilitation hospitals in New York include:
- New York - Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia and Cornell: #13 in rehabilitation hospitals with a score of 69.0 / 100. It is nationally ranked in 14 adult specialties and 10 pediatric specialties.
- Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Hospitals: #5 in rehabilitation hospitals with a score of 79.6 / 100. It is nationally ranked in 13 adult specialties and 3 pediatric specialties.
- Mount Sinai Hospital: #18 in rehabilitation hospitals with a score of 66.9 / 100. It is nationally ranked in 12 adult specialties and 4 pediatric specialties.
- Burke Rehabilitation Hospital: #32 in rehabilitation hospitals with a score of 60.8 / 100. It is nationally ranked in 1 adult specialty.
Federal Quality Ratings
The federal quality ratings, updated each July by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, analyze quality information on important healthcare topics such as readmissions and deaths after heart attacks or pneumonia. The overall rating, between 1 and 5 stars, summarizes a variety of measures across five areas of quality: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care.
In New York, the hospitals' ratings lagged behind national trends. Only 11 hospitals in New York received the top 5 - stars rating, which is about 8% of the state’s eligible hospitals, compared to about 15% of hospitals nationally. On the other hand, 25 hospitals in New York got the lowest 1 - star rating, representing about 18% of eligible hospitals statewide, while the national tally was 8%. A total of 19 hospitals in New York received 4 - star ratings, 35 received 3 stars, and 48 got 2 - star ratings, all falling short of national trends.
Potential reasons for the poor ratings in New York include limited state fines imposed on hospitals that put patients at risk and some hospitals’ failures to implement best practices, according to a study by the New York Public Interest Research Group. However, hospital trade groups have disputed many of the rankings, citing a lack of uniform standards and varying timeframes for data reviews that failed to account for the complexities of healthcare delivery.
Importance of Hospital Rankings
Hospital rankings play a crucial role in helping patients make informed decisions about their healthcare. For patients with specific medical conditions, rankings can guide them to hospitals that have a proven track record in treating those conditions. For example, if a patient is suffering from heart failure, the U.S. News & World Report rankings can help them identify hospitals like NYC Health + Hospitals / Elmhurst, which is recognized for its treatment of heart failure.
Safety grades, such as those provided by the Leapfrog Group, are also essential as they give patients an idea of how well a hospital can prevent medical errors, accidents, and infections. A hospital with a high safety grade is more likely to provide a safe environment for patients during their stay.
Rehabilitation rankings are valuable for patients who require post - treatment rehabilitation services. By choosing a highly ranked rehabilitation hospital, patients can increase their chances of a successful recovery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the various hospital rankings in New York City provide valuable information for patients and healthcare providers alike. The Leapfrog Group's safety grades, U.S. News & World Report's best hospital rankings, rehabilitation rankings, and federal quality ratings all contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the performance of hospitals in the city. While New York City has some top - ranked hospitals in various specialties, there are also areas where the healthcare system needs improvement, as seen in the federal quality ratings.
Patients are encouraged to research these rankings and consider them when making healthcare decisions. Whether it's choosing a hospital for a specific medical procedure, a rehabilitation program, or simply looking for a safe place to receive treatment, these rankings can be a useful tool. If you're a resident of New York City or planning to seek medical care in the area, take the time to explore these rankings and find the hospital that best suits your needs. Share this article with others who may benefit from this information and stay informed about the latest healthcare developments in the city.