Stony Brook, Mather Hospitals Ranked Among Nation’s Best in New Healthgrades Awards
Stony Brook University Hospital and Northwell Health’s Mather Hospital were today recognized for specialty care excellence in the 2026 Healthgrades Specialty Excellence Awards, signaling high-quality care for Long Island residents.
Stony Brook University Hospital achieved national ranking among the top 100 hospitals in the U.S. for stroke care, cardiac care, coronary intervention, and joint replacement, according to Healthgrades, a leading healthcare ranking organization. The evaluation encompassed data from Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, which operate under a single Medicare Provider ID. Mather Hospital was similarly honored as one of the country’s best for coronary interventions and critical care. These rankings are particularly important as Long Island faces a growing aging population with increasing cardiac and neurological needs.
The annual Healthgrades rankings assess mortality and complication rates using Medicare data from approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide, identifying facilities demonstrating “superior performance” across 16 specialty areas. “Our specialty awards identify the nation’s top-performing hospitals across numerous medical specialties, helping consumers find high-quality care tailored to their specific needs,” stated Alana Biggers, medical adviser at Healthgrades. Dr. Eric J. Morley, chief quality officer at Stony Brook Medicine, emphasized the recognition as “a byproduct of incredibly hard work” by the hospital staff, noting that Stony Brook’s expertise stems from frequently treating geriatric patients, with over 40% of admissions and nearly a quarter of emergency department visits last year from individuals 65 or older.
Northwell Health, as a system, received a combined total of 34 awards across its seven regional hospitals. “It just reflects our overall commitment to total care of patients across our large health system,” said Dr. Peter Silver, senior vice president and chief quality officer at Northwell. Industry observers caution that hospital rankings should be considered one factor among many when choosing a healthcare provider; patients should consult with their physicians and conduct thorough research, as highlighted by Wendy Darwell, president and CEO of the Suburban Hospital Alliance, who recommends patients find a doctor and “do some homework.”
Hospital officials stated they will continue to focus on delivering high-quality, specialized care to the Long Island community.
