Huntington Hospital Earns Patient Safety Excellence Award For 8th Straight Year

HUNTINGTON, NY — Huntington Hospital has once again been recognized among the safest hospitals in the nation, earning the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades, hospital officials announced.

The Northwell Health hospital has received the award for eight consecutive years from 2019 through 2026 and has ranked among the top 5 percent of short-term acute-care hospitals nationwide for patient safety for seven straight years, according to Healthgrades.

Huntington Hospital was one of six Northwell hospitals recognized for patient safety excellence this year.

“Earning the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 2026 is a profound honor and a powerful reaffirmation of Northwell's unwavering commitment to placing patient safety and exceptional care at the heart of everything we do,” said Dr. Peter Silver, senior vice president and chief quality officer at Northwell Health.

Northwell’s Plainview Hospital was also ranked among the top 5 percent nationwide for patient safety for the fifth consecutive year, while Long Island Jewish Medical Center earned the distinction for the third straight year, Healthgrades said.

“This sustained recognition is a direct reflection of the extraordinary dedication and vigilance of every team member across our health system. They tirelessly champion a robust culture of hospital safety, continuously innovating and refining our practices to ensure the highest quality outcomes and the safest possible environment for the communities we are privileged to serve.”

Patients at Award-Winning Hospitals Experience Fewer Complications

The Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award is based on an analysis of 13 patient safety indicators among Medicare patients treated at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide between 2022 and 2024.

Hospitals must meet multiple criteria to qualify, including:

• Ranking in the top 80 percent nationally for clinical quality

• Reporting zero cases of retained surgical items

• Providing sufficient data across core patient safety indicators

According to Healthgrades, patients treated at award-winning hospitals had a significantly lower risk of experiencing several common hospital complications, including:

• 71.9% lower risk of pressure sores acquired in the hospital

• 67.8% lower risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections

• 57.5% lower risk of a collapsed lung caused by procedures in or around the chest

• 52.4% lower risk of falls resulting in fractures

During the study period, Healthgrades identified more than 167,000 preventable safety events among Medicare patients nationwide, highlighting the importance of strong hospital safety practices.

Northwell officials said the recognition reflects the system’s continued focus on quality improvement, clinical safety protocols, and staff training across its hospitals.