In August 2018, U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals 2018-2019 survey ranked New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery as the No. 1 hospital in the country for orthopedics, for the ninth consecutive year.
Here are 10 key updates from Hospital for Special Surgery in 2019.
1. The hospital established an Office of Medical Leadership under the tutelage of incoming surgeon-in-chief and medical director, Bryan Kelly, MD. The aim is to uphold the highest standards in patient care, teaching, research and innovation as well as compliance and quality control measures being met.
2. HSS announced in April that it is moving forward with a controversial expansion plan it launched 10 years ago, funding the project with philanthropy and new debt. The 12-story building would include around 2,015 private patient rooms as well as office space and imaging services.
3. HSS named Andrew Pearle, MD, chief of the HSS Sports Medicine Institute. Dr. Pearle will succeed Bryan Kelly, MD, who was appointed to serve as HSS' surgeon-in-chief and medical director, effective July 1.
4. In an interview with Becker's, chief of spine services at HSS, Frank Schwab, MD, provided his view on how he sees bundled payments developing. He believes that they will continue to expand but are unlikely to replace current payment models given a stratified consumer market.
5. HSS awarded the former chief of its foot and ankle department, Jonathan Deland, MD, its lifetime achievement award. Dr. Deland is a foot and ankle surgeon at HSS, as well as the Susan W. Rose and Jonathan T. Deland Chair for Research in Foot and Ankle Surgery.
6. HSS partnered with Scientific Analytics to improve motion analysis for patients. The collaboration will integrate the hospital's knowledge with SAI technology. The SAI DARI Motion technology can help with injury prevention, performance improvement and wellness.
7. The New York Mets selected HSS as the presenting partner of the Mets Academy — a baseball training facility in the Dominican Republic. HSS will provide preventive, educational, performance and consulting services to benefit the club's Latin American prospects.
8. HSS installed virtual reality surgical training software to assist with orthopedic surgery residency training. The Osso VR system is designed to allow orthopedic surgeons to practice knee, hip and spinal procedures. Orthopedic residents are using the system in the simulation lab to practice before operating on cadavers.
9. The hospital appointed Jack Davis, RN, as president of the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. Mr. Davis is the manager of patient education and research at HSS where he spent his entire 39-year career.
10. HSS dedicated the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Complex Joint Reconstruction Center in February. The center's mission is to provide joint replacement and reconstruction patients a single access point for coordinated care.