Greenport - Obama's healthcare reform act contains provisions that mandate hospital quality measurements are to be made accessible, by January 1 2011, so that Americans can make better informed health care decisions. However, in 2010, ELIH (Eastern Long Island Hospital) has achieved these Federal mandates and as such has been awarded the Outstanding Patient Experience Award by HealthGrades, a leading independent healthcare ratings organization.

HealthGrades ranks ELIH among the top 15 percent in the nation for outstanding patient experience based on an analysis of patient surveys. Eastern Long Island Hospital was one of only eight recipients of the HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ in New York State, one of just two in Long Island and the only awardee in Suffolk County, Long Island - alongside the prestigious facilities of St. Francis Hospital (Nassau County, LI) and the Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City).

Achieving the number three spot for outstanding patient experience in New York City and the Long Island market area has been "the culmination of many years of patient-focused initiatives within the hospita,l, says Paul Connor, President and CEO of Eastern Long Island Hospital. He goes on to say, "While we are honored to be receiving this award from HealthGrades, we know it is really from our community of satisfied patients who are awarding us this honor and I thank them all; as well as my great staff for all the talent, hard work and heart they bring to work every day."