Washington Hospital Healthcare System Recognized as National Leader in Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery and Joint Replacement

Washington Hospital Healthcare System (WHHS) was recently named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery and one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Joint Replacement by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. This distinction is evidence of the Healthcare System’s superior clinical outcomes for neck and back surgery, total hip replacement and total knee replacement.

“Being among the top 5% in the nation and the only hospital in the Bay Area recognizes our exceptional orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons,” said Kimberly Hartz, chief executive officer of Washington Hospital Healthcare System. “Both of these distinctions underscore the value of placing the patient at the center of our care, improving practice through evidence-based quality principles, and investing in the advancement of medical practice.”

What Does Being “One of America’s 50 Best” Mean for Patients?

Healthgrades found that patients treated at hospitals recognized for excellence in outpatient orthopedic surgery have a much better chance at a smooth recovery than those treated at hospitals not recognized by Healthgrades. Between 2020 and 2022, patients treated at facilities receiving the America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery Award had on average a 39.7% lower risk of experiencing a complication in the hospital than if they were treated at hospitals that did not receive the award.

In short, hospital awards like these are important to patients because it means an independent organization has conducted a full evaluation of the hospital’s specialty and rated it accordingly. It also shows they are committed to being a top performing hospital and ensuring the best care and overall experience for patients.

The Institute for Joint Restoration and Research (IJRR) at Washington Hospital has become a destination for people all over the state and country in need of a total hip or total knee replacement. Because of advancements in minimally invasive surgical approach and multimodal pain relief procedures, the acclaimed IJRR orthopedic surgeons now perform many joint replacements for their patients on an outpatient basis. Research shows outpatient procedures are as safe as in-hospital joint replacement surgeries as far as rates of infection and post-surgical complications. The IJRR has received numerous accolades over the past decade and now its patients can be assured they are being treated at one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Joint Replacement.

Washington Hospital also received a 5-star rating for Outpatient Back and Neck Surgery. People needing back and neck surgery in the Tri-City Area have local access to world renowned neurosurgeons right in their neighborhood at the Bell Neuroscience Institute of Silicon Valley at Washington Hospital. Surgeries that used to require several days to recover in the Hospital can now be done on an outpatient basis due to advancements in minimally invasive procedures. In addition to its new acknowledgement as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery, including neck and back procedures, WHHS recently earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery.

What is Healthgrades?

Healthgrades is the nation’s foremost health care review organization with the mission of providing consumers with information they need to make informed decisions. Since 1998, Healthgrades has provided the most scientifically accurate and comprehensive information about doctors and hospitals. By offering easy access to data-driven ratings, Healthgrades connects people with the providers and hospitals that are right for their needs.

Healthgrades 2024 Specialty Ratings showcases hospitals nationwide that deliver consistently exceptional patient outcomes in specific medical specialties. They use a process of comparing predictive outcomes to actual results at each facility and award rankings based on which perform statistically higher than expectations.

To see a complete list of WHHS awards and certifications, go to WHHS.com/awards. To learn more about the Institute for Joint Restoration and Research at Washington Hospital, go to whhs.com/IJRR. For information on the Bell Neurosciences Institute of Silicon Valley, go to whhs.com/neuroscience. And to find out more about Healthgrades, go to Healthgrades.com.