Stony Brook University Hospital Gastroenterology Services Ranks 48th in U.S. News Media Group’s 2010-11 Best Hospitals
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – July, 15, 2010 – Stony Brook University Hospital Gastroenterology Services has been ranked 48th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2010-11 Best Hospitals, online at
www.usnews.com/besthospitals
and featured in the August print issue of U.S. News, available on newsstands July 27.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Stony Brook specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract and liver. Outpatients and patients in the hospital are treated by physicians with expertise in all forms of gastroenterological and hepatobiliary diseases. Highly-skilled members of the Division perform over 8,000 endoscopic procedures in state-of-the-art facilities. These procedures are part of an integrated and sophisticated approach to the care of patients with gastrointestinal and liver diseases by members of the Stony Brook faculty.
Best Hospitals 2010-11 includes rankings of 152 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties, including cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, ear, nose, and throat, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, heart and heart surgery, kidney disorders, neurology and neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedics, psychiatry, pulmonology, rehabilitation, rheumatology, and urology. Full data is available online for another 1,740 hospitals that qualified for ranking but did not score high enough to be ranked.
“I am thrilled with this recognition, which reflects the superb abilities of our highly specialized physicians who excel in all aspects of gastroenterology, including advanced endoscopy, motility disorders, women’s gastrointestinal health, and the diagnosis of premalignant conditions,” said Basil Rigas, M.D., ScD, Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology and Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
“The high ranking also reflects the commitment of our hospital to provide equipment and facilities second to none, as well as the dedication and professionalism of our nursing and support staff,” added Dr. Rigas.
“We are proud of the work done though our Gastroenterology Services, a Division of physicians, nurses and other professionals who provide world-class care for many debilitating diseases and conditions,” said Steven L. Strongwater, M.D., CEO of Stony Brook University Hospital. “Long Islanders should rest reassured knowing that they can access the best possible care for their gastrointestinal problems.”
The rankings in 12 of the 16 specialties were driven by hard data such as death rates, procedure volume, and balance of nurses and patients. In the four remaining specialties – ophthalmology psychiatry, rehabilitation, and rheumatology – hospitals were ranked on reputation alone.
To be considered in any of the 12 data-driven specialties, a hospital first had to meet at least one of four criteria: It had to be a teaching hospital, or be affiliated with a medical school, or have at least 200 beds, or have 100 or more beds and the availability of four or more types of medical technology considered important in a high-quality medical facility, such as a PET/CT scanner and certain precision radiation therapies.
Next, the hospitals had to meet a volume requirement, individually calculated for each specialty. The required volume was the number of Medicare inpatients from 2006 to 2008 who had various specified procedures and conditions in the specialty. A hospital that fell short could still qualify if it had been nominated by at least one physician in any of the U.S. News Best Hospitals reputational surveys conducted in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
“Treating diseases also depends upon scientific discovery,” continued Dr. Rigas. “Besides providing the best care possible, our Unit is advancing the frontiers of medical knowledge by conducting cutting-edge research in the development of novel drugs against cancer, using nanotechnology to diagnose diseases early and accurately, and applying stem cells to treat patients with Crohn’s disease.”
“When the stakes are high, you want the best care you can get for yourself or someone close to you,” said Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. “These hospitals are accustomed to seeing the sickest patients day in and day out.”
Stony Brook University Medical Center is the only academic medical center on Long Island. It comprises Stony Brook University School of Medicine and Stony Brook University Hospital, which is the only tertiary care hospital and Level 1 trauma center in Suffolk County. With 540 beds and more than 5,100 employees, it is the largest hospital in Suffolk County. The Heart Center performs the only open-heart surgery in Suffolk and the Cancer Center and Cerebrovascular Center attract patients from throughout the region with cutting edge diagnostic and treatment facilities. Stony Brook is home to Long Island’s first kidney transplantation program which has performed over 1,100 transplants, and initiated the nation’s first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. The hospital is also the regional referral center for trauma, perinatal and neonatal intensive care, burns, bone marrow and stem cell transplantation, cystic fibrosis, pediatric/adult AIDS, and is the regional resource center for emergency management. Stony Brook’s Stroke program is certified by the Joint Commission and the NYS Department of Health; and, Stony Brook is home to the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities and Long Island’s first comprehensive ALS Center.
