Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) has achieved the No. 1 national ranking in orthopedics for the 16th consecutive year and secured the No. 3 spot in rheumatology, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals: Specialty Rankings.
The annual report evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties, using measures such as patient outcomes, nursing care levels, patient-reported experiences, and advanced technologies like computer-assisted orthopedic surgery. Data sources included the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and professional medical organizations.
“We are once again honored to be recognized as a leader in our specialties of orthopedics and rheumatology,” said HSS President and CEO Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA. “This reflects the skill and dedication of every member of the HSS team, who work together to help people get back to what they need and love to do better than any other place in the world.”
Douglas E. Padgett, MD, surgeon-in-chief and medical director at HSS, commented on the hospital’s longstanding reputation: “The U.S. News rankings underscore HSS’s continued leadership and commitment to musculoskeletal health, reflecting 162 years of clinical excellence, innovation, and patient-centered care. Our consistent recognition as a top hospital highlights our steadfast dedication to maintaining the highest standards of evidence-based care.”
Patients travel from all U.S. states and over 100 countries to receive specialized treatment at HSS for complex conditions or surgeries requiring advanced expertise.
“When faced with a challenging rheumatologic disease, every patient wants a rheumatologist they can trust,” said S. Louis Bridges, Jr., MD, PhD, physician-in-chief and chief of Rheumatology at HSS. “The high rating of HSS Rheumatology demonstrates clinical excellence made possible by our strong dedication to best practices and personalized care, and by our commitment to advancing musculoskeletal medicine through research, education, and innovation.”
HSS reports some of the nation’s lowest readmission rates for orthopedic procedures as well as low infection and complication rates. Since Newsweek began its “World’s Best Specialized Hospitals” survey in 2020,HSS has been named No. 1 globally in orthopedics each year.
HSS is among only three U.S. hospitals ranked No. 1 both nationally by U.S. News & World Report and globally by Newsweek within any specialty.
In 2024 alone,HSS clinicians provided specialized orthopedic or rheumatologic care to more than 248,917 patients, addressing conditions such as joint injuries or pain; osteoarthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; lupus; scleroderma; and psoriatic arthritis.More than 43,000 orthopedic surgical procedures were performed at HSS that year.
The hospital serves as official medical provider for over two dozen sports teams including major New York franchises such as the Giants (NFL), Knicks (NBA), Liberty (WNBA), Brooklyn Nets (NBA), Mets (MLB), Red Bulls (MLS), TCS New York City Marathon participants,and several leagues like Major League Pickleball. It also holds designation as a Medical Center of Excellence from FIFA.
