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Earns Acclaim as 'America's Best Hospital for Orthopedics'

NEW YORK, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) has been named the top hospital in the nation in orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in its 2007 "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Hospital for Special Surgery also ranked third in the nation for rheumatology. For the 17th consecutive year, HSS has ranked above all other hospitals in the Northeast in orthopedics and rheumatology.

"Our number one position on U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals list in orthopedics is not only a tremendous honor but underscores the talent and commitment of the HSS staff," said Louis Shapiro, President and CEO of Hospital for Special Surgery. "The increasing number of people who choose to come to HSS was recognized as a factor for our first place ranking. It also confirms the quality of the excellent patient experience here, which we all work hard to instill each day."

To further illustrate Hospital for Special Surgery's leadership in orthopedics, the hospital is featured in an exclusive photo essay on knee replacement. Hospital for Special Surgery's innovation in the field of knee replacement is well chronicled - it pioneered total knee replacement and has perfected minimally invasive knee procedures to speed recovery and reduce patients' hospital stay. Last year, HSS performed more than 2,500 knee replacements, which is the greatest number of knee replacements in the nation.

Surgeons at HSS perform more than 18,000 orthopedic surgeries per year. Physicians from its Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service are associated with major professional sports teams including the New York Mets, New York Football Giants, New York Knicks, Nets Basketball, New York Liberty Basketball, New York Red Bulls, the Association of Tennis Professionals and the U.S. Rowing Team. Additionally, the hospital has established a number of specialty centers including innovative centers for Women's Sports Medicine and Osteoporosis Prevention. Other special services include the Mary Kirkland Center for Lupus Research, the Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Disease, the Gosden-Robinson Early Arthritis Center, and the Center for Skeletal Dysplasias.

"This recognition is not only a great achievement by our orthopedic surgery and rheumatology departments," said Mr. Shapiro. "They are also crowning achievements for all our services who work hand in glove with these departments, including but certainly not limited to physical medicine and rehabilitation, anesthesiology, radiology, nursing, and all the members of the HSS family who support these departments."

U.S. News & World Report's "America'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 such measures of quality as patient volumes and mortality rates as well as nursing care and technology services.

About Hospital for Special Surgery

Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS has received Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In the 2006 edition of HealthGrades' Hospital Quality in America Study, HSS received five-star ratings for clinical excellence in its specialties. A member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS provides orthopedic and rheumatologic patient care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. All Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medical College. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.

For more information contact:

Phyllis Fisher
212-606-1197
FisherP@hss.edu

Tracy Hickenbottom
212-606-1197
HickenbottomT@hss.edu

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: Ilana.Tabak@edelman.com

Source: Hospital for Special Surgery

CONTACT: Phyllis Fisher, +1-212-606-1197, FisherP@hss.edu, or Tracy
Hickenbottom, +1-212-606-1197, HickenbottomT@hss.edu, both of Hospital for
Special Surgery

Web site: http://www.hss.edu/

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Profile: Media News