HSS Retains No. 1 U.S. Ranking in Orthopedics for 17th Straight Year, Earns No. 3 in Rheumatology
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) has once again reinforced its position as the nation’s premier destination for musculoskeletal care by securing the No. 1 ranking in orthopedics for the 17th consecutive year in the U.S. News & World Report 2026–2027 Best Hospitals: Specialty Rankings. In addition to maintaining its historic leadership in orthopedic medicine, HSS also achieved the No. 3 national ranking in rheumatology, underscoring its continued excellence in diagnosing and treating complex autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
The latest recognition extends an extraordinary legacy of clinical achievement for HSS, highlighting nearly two decades of unmatched performance in orthopedic care. The rankings acknowledge hospitals that consistently demonstrate exceptional patient outcomes, advanced medical expertise, cutting-edge technology, and a strong commitment to patient-centered care.
Continued Excellence in National Hospital Rankings
Each year, U.S. News & World Report evaluates approximately 4,500 hospitals across the United States in 14 medical specialties, using an extensive methodology designed to measure healthcare quality and patient outcomes.
Hospitals are assessed using a broad range of performance indicators, including:
- Patient survival and complication rates
- Hospital readmission statistics
- Nursing quality and staffing levels
- Patient experience and satisfaction
- Availability and use of advanced technologies
- Clinical reputation among physician specialists
- Compliance with evidence-based treatment practices
The evaluation also incorporates information from respected sources such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), national professional organizations, and surveys completed by thousands of medical specialists.
HSS’s continued leadership in orthopedics reflects its ability to consistently outperform hospitals nationwide across these important measures while maintaining a relentless focus on quality improvement and innovation.
A Recognition Built on Teamwork
According to Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of HSS, the latest rankings are a direct reflection of the institution’s commitment to excellence across every aspect of patient care.
Kelly emphasized that the recognition belongs to the entire HSS community, including physicians, nurses, researchers, therapists, and support staff who work together to provide comprehensive musculoskeletal care.
He noted that the distinction also provides reassurance to patients throughout the New York metropolitan region and beyond that they have access to one of the world’s most advanced orthopedic hospitals close to home.
Rather than simply treating injuries or diseases, HSS focuses on preserving mobility, improving quality of life, and extending healthy years of movement so individuals can continue participating in work, sports, recreation, and everyday activities.
Advancing Musculoskeletal Medicine
HSS has built its international reputation by specializing exclusively in musculoskeletal health—a focused mission that allows physicians and researchers to continually refine treatments for orthopedic injuries, joint disorders, spine conditions, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and rheumatologic diseases.
Douglas E. Padgett, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical Director at HSS, said the U.S. News recognition highlights the organization’s unwavering commitment to clinical excellence, medical innovation, and patient-centered care.
He explained that one of the greatest indicators of HSS’s success is the trust placed in the institution by patients who travel from across the United States and around the world seeking specialized treatment.
Many patients arrive after exhausting other treatment options or requiring highly complex surgeries that demand the expertise of multidisciplinary teams with extensive experience in musculoskeletal disorders.
Padgett stressed that preserving movement is fundamental to maintaining long-term health, independence, and quality of life—a philosophy that continues to guide HSS’s approach to care.
A Global Destination for Orthopedic Care
HSS has become one of the world’s most recognized centers for orthopedic and rheumatologic medicine.
Patients travel to the institution from all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries, seeking treatment for both common orthopedic conditions and some of the world’s most challenging musculoskeletal diseases.
The hospital treats patients of every age and activity level, ranging from children with congenital disorders to elite athletes recovering from sports injuries and older adults managing arthritis or joint degeneration.
Its multidisciplinary approach combines orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, physiatrists, pain management specialists, radiologists, rehabilitation experts, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and researchers to deliver coordinated, personalized care.
This collaborative model allows HSS to develop treatment plans tailored to each patient’s medical condition, lifestyle, and recovery goals.
Leadership in Rheumatology
In addition to its orthopedic leadership, HSS continues to rank among the nation’s very best hospitals for rheumatology.
The hospital earned the No. 3 national ranking, recognizing decades of expertise in treating autoimmune diseases, inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue disorders, and other complex rheumatic conditions.
Anca D. Askanase, MD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at HSS, credited the recognition to the physicians, scientists, researchers, and care teams who continue advancing the understanding and treatment of rheumatic diseases.
She highlighted the hospital’s commitment to:
- Groundbreaking clinical research
- Development of innovative therapies
- Precision medicine approaches
- Individualized patient care
- Improved long-term disease management
These efforts have helped transform outcomes for patients living with chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, vasculitis, and numerous other autoimmune disorders.
Innovation Driving Better Outcomes
Innovation remains central to HSS’s continued success.
The institution has invested heavily in emerging technologies that are transforming musculoskeletal medicine, including:
- Artificial intelligence
- Machine learning
- Advanced medical imaging
- Data science
- Robotic-assisted surgery
- Computer-assisted orthopedic surgery
- Precision medicine
- Predictive analytics
According to Joel Press, MD, Physiatrist-in-Chief at HSS, advances in AI and data science are dramatically accelerating the pace of medical discovery.
Researchers can now analyze enormous volumes of clinical information to identify disease patterns, improve diagnosis, predict outcomes, and personalize treatment strategies more effectively than ever before.
Press noted that HSS’s exclusive focus on musculoskeletal health provides a unique environment where scientific discoveries can rapidly move from research laboratories into everyday clinical practice, benefiting patients more quickly.
Exceptional Clinical Performance
Beyond national rankings, HSS continues to distinguish itself through measurable clinical outcomes.
The hospital consistently reports:
- Among the nation’s lowest orthopedic readmission rates
- Exceptionally low infection rates
- Low complication rates following surgery
- High patient satisfaction scores
- Excellent long-term recovery outcomes
These results reflect rigorous surgical protocols, evidence-based care pathways, continuous quality monitoring, and comprehensive rehabilitation programs that begin before surgery and continue throughout recovery.
The hospital’s emphasis on patient safety has helped establish HSS as one of the world’s most trusted orthopedic institutions.
The World’s Most Awarded Orthopedic Hospital
HSS has earned numerous international recognitions over the past decade.
Notably, Newsweek has named HSS the world’s top orthopedic hospital every year since introducing its “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals” rankings in 2020.
This distinction reflects consistent excellence in clinical performance, physician reputation, patient outcomes, and international recognition.
The combination of top rankings from both U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek further reinforces HSS’s status as a global leader in orthopedic medicine.
Serving Hundreds of Thousands of Patients
The scale of HSS’s clinical operations demonstrates both its expertise and its growing impact.
During 2025, HSS specialists provided care for more than 258,000 patients with orthopedic and rheumatologic conditions.
These included individuals experiencing:
- Back pain
- Neck disorders
- Joint injuries
- Sports injuries
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- Scleroderma
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Degenerative joint disease
- Complex musculoskeletal disorders
The hospital also performed more than 45,800 orthopedic surgical procedures during the year, representing one of the highest orthopedic surgical volumes in the world.
High surgical volume has long been associated with improved outcomes for many complex procedures because physicians gain extensive experience treating a wide variety of conditions.
Comprehensive Care Across the Patient Journey
One of the defining characteristics of HSS is its comprehensive model of care.
Patients benefit from coordinated services that extend well beyond surgery, including:
- Preventive care
- Diagnostic imaging
- Non-surgical treatment
- Physical medicine
- Pain management
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Sports performance
- Recovery and long-term follow-up
This integrated approach helps patients recover more effectively while reducing complications and supporting long-term mobility.
Trusted by Elite Athletes
HSS’s expertise extends far beyond traditional hospital care into professional and elite sports medicine.
The institution serves as the official hospital and provides team physicians for more than 25 professional sports organizations, teams, and athletic events.
Its partners include:
- New York Giants
- New York Knicks
- New York Liberty
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Mets
- New York Red Bulls
- TCS New York City Marathon
- National Basketball Players Association
- Major League Pickleball
- US Youth Soccer
- UFC
These partnerships reflect the confidence that professional athletes and sports organizations place in HSS’s ability to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate complex sports injuries while helping athletes safely return to competition.
International Recognition from FIFA
Adding to its list of distinctions, HSS has also been designated a Medical Center of Excellence by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association).
This designation recognizes healthcare institutions that demonstrate exceptional expertise in sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and athlete care.
The recognition further strengthens HSS’s international reputation as a leading provider of musculoskeletal healthcare for both professional athletes and active individuals.
As healthcare continues to evolve through advances in artificial intelligence, precision medicine, robotics, and digital health technologies, HSS remains focused on expanding the boundaries of musculoskeletal care.
Its physician-scientists continue conducting groundbreaking research aimed at improving surgical techniques, accelerating recovery, developing innovative therapies, and better understanding the biological mechanisms underlying orthopedic and rheumatologic diseases.
At the same time, the hospital remains committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care that places patients at the center of every clinical decision.
The institution’s continued recognition by U.S. News & World Report reflects more than exceptional rankings—it represents nearly two decades of sustained leadership in orthopedic medicine and ongoing excellence in rheumatology. With record-setting achievements, world-renowned specialists, cutting-edge research, and an unwavering commitment to innovation, HSS continues to set the benchmark for musculoskeletal healthcare while helping hundreds of thousands of patients each year regain mobility, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life.
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