July 23, 2009
Contact:  Shelley Lotenberg
(516) 572-6055
shelley@numc.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NUMC’S INPATIENT REHABILITATION UNIT INCLUDED IN PRESTIGIOUS TOP 100 LISTING OF INPATIENT REHABILITATION HOSPITALS IN US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT AUGUST 2009 WEB EDITION

IMPRESSIVE RANKING IS PEER SELECTED BY REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS WHO RECOMMENDED NUMC FOR CHALLENGING CASES

NUMC IS ONLY ONE OF TWO LONG ISLAND INPATIENT REHABILITATION UNIT INCLUDED IN OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE LISTING

East Meadow, NY….. Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the Nassau Health Care Corporation, proudly announced that the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department inpatient rehabilitation unit has been included in the top 100 prestigious listing of the US News and World Report August 2009 web edition for top inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.

The ranking is peer selected by rehabilitation specialists who recommended NUMC for challenging cases.
“I am extremely proud and pleased to announce the inclusion of the NUMC inpatient rehabilitation unit in the US News and World Report listing for inpatient hospitals, truly outstanding news, a well-deserved accomplishment for the PM&R staff under the leadership of Lyn Weiss, chair of the department,” said Gianelli.

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit at Nassau University Medical Center treats patients with a variety of life alternating injuries and illnesses.  The professional staff is committed to improve the quality of life for its patients by helping them regain independence.  Intensive treatment is provided seven days per week, and includes a team of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, social workers, case managers, speech pathologists, and recreational therapists. 

Steven J. Walerstein, MD, NHCC senior vice president for medical affairs and medical director commended the staff on the impressive recognition:  “It is a great acknowledgement that the NUMC inpatient rehabilitation unit is receiving such exceptional recognition and the entire PM&R staff is well deserving of this credit, a reflection on the whole team and its leader, Dr. Weiss.”
            
The hospitals were ranked on reputation by the percentage of board certified physicians responding to US News surveys in 2007, 2008, 2009 and those recommending the hospital as among the best in their specialty for the most challenging cases and procedures.  Hospitals were ranked in 16 specialties, with a total of 4,861 hospitals put through the statistical wringer and only 174 hospitals scored high enough to be ranked in one of the 16 specialties.
To be a candidate for these specialties, a hospital first had to meet any one of three criteria:  be a teaching hospital, have at least 200 beds, or have at least 100 beds and at least four out of eight important medical technologies, such as current-generation CT scanners and precision radiation therapies.  Specialists were asked to list five hospitals they consider among the best in their specialty for difficult cases, without taking into account cost or location. 

Dr. Weiss congratulated and commended her staff for the superb quality of care recognition:  “I am thrilled that this prestigious publication recognized the great work that our staff does every day to provide quality care for all our patients.”