Newsweek Names NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Among America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2026
Recognition highlights Bellevue Hospital’s longstanding leadership in rehabilitation medicine and comprehensive care for patients recovering from injury, illness and neurological conditions
Aug 27, 2026
New York, NY – NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue has been recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers for 2026, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to providing high quality, comprehensive rehabilitation services to patients recovering from serious injuries, illnesses and neurological conditions. Bellevue Hospital is one of only eleven sites in New York State to receive the prestigious designation.
The recognition by Newsweek and Statista places Bellevue Hospital among leading inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the country. The ranking evaluates rehabilitation centers using a combination of quality measures, recommendations from medical professionals, accreditation data and patient experience.
“Bellevue Hospital’s recognition by Newsweek is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the extraordinary expertise and dedication of our Rehabilitation Medicine team,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Chief Executive Officer Eric Wei, MD, MBA. “Bellevue Hospital has been a pioneer in rehabilitation medicine for nearly 80 years, and that legacy continues today as our clinicians help patients recover from serious injuries and illnesses and regain their independence. As America’s oldest public hospital, we are especially proud to provide this high level of specialized rehabilitation care to all New Yorkers, regardless of their ability to pay.”
Bellevue Hospital has a distinguished history in rehabilitation medicine. In 1946, Dr. Howard Rusk, known as the “Father of Rehabilitation Medicine,” and Dr. Howard Deaver, a leading expert in physical therapy, established the first nonmilitary rehabilitation service in a general hospital at Bellevue. That legacy continues today through Bellevue’s longstanding affiliation with the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Bellevue Hospital offers both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services and is a Center of Excellence for traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Its multidisciplinary team provides individualized care designed to maximize function, improve mobility and independence, and help patients return to their homes, communities and daily activities.
“Rehabilitation is about much more than helping a patient regain physical strength,” said Shailaja Kalva, MD, Chief of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “It is about helping people rebuild their lives after an injury or illness and achieve the greatest level of independence possible. At Bellevue Hospital, we develop individualized goals for every patient and bring together physicians, nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists, psychologists, social workers and other specialists to address the full range of each patient’s needs. This recognition reflects the compassion, expertise and commitment our entire team brings to that work every day. I am so proud to be part of this amazing team.”
Bellevue Hospital’s outpatient rehabilitation services include general rehabilitation, pediatric rehabilitation, brain injury rehabilitation, and prosthetic, orthotic and wheelchair services. Patients have access to physical therapy specialties including orthopedics, neurology, vestibular rehabilitation, amputation and brain injury, as well as occupational therapy programs addressing hand therapy, lymphedema management, low vision, cognitive retraining and wheelchair and seating needs.
The hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation program provides intensive, individualized therapy for patients with complex medical and functional needs. Physical, occupational and speech therapy are integrated into each patient’s rehabilitation plan, with the goal of helping patients achieve the greatest possible level of independence.
“Our patients come to us at some of the most challenging moments in their lives, and our job is to help them see what is possible,” said Neville Crick, PT, DPT, MPA, Director, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “Whether someone is recovering from a traumatic brain injury, stroke, surgery or another serious condition, rehabilitation is a team effort built around meaningful, measurable goals. We work closely with patients and their families to help them regain mobility and function, develop strategies for greater independence and prepare for a successful return home and to their communities. This recognition is a testament to the commitment of our entire rehabilitation team.”
The recognition comes as Bellevue Hospital continues its tradition of caring for some of New York City’s most medically complex patients. As America’s oldest public hospital, Bellevue has provided care to New Yorkers for nearly three centuries and remains a major referral center for patients with complex medical and surgical conditions.
“Rehabilitation can be a very emotional journey for patients and their families, and our nurses are there every step of the way,” said Guerda Mars, RN, MSN, Director of Nursing for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “Our nursing team gets to know patients not only as people receiving care, but as individuals who have their own goals and hopes for getting back to the lives they know. We listen, answer questions, provide encouragement, and work closely with families so they understand how they can support their loved one’s recovery. That personal connection is at the heart of nursing care in rehabilitation, and it is one of the things that makes our team so special.”
Bellevue Hospital offers a variety of therapeutic services specifically tailored to the needs of each rehabilitation patient. Inpatients attend three or more hours of therapy a day, five days each week, and family members are invited to participate with their loved ones.
Therapies include:
- Physical Therapy to help patients improve their mobility.
- Occupational Therapy to help patients learn to take care of themselves after an injury or illness, with a focus on activities of daily living. Activities include cooking in a kitchen and other home care tasks designed to help persons who have suffered an injury or illness restore lost skills and regain maximum self-sufficiency.
- Speech Therapy to evaluate and treat disorders of speech, language, cognition, and swallowing.
- Psychology Services to provide emotional support to help individuals get the most out of their rehab medicine treatment, cope with changes, and plan for the future.
Bellevue Hospital provides comprehensive medical rehabilitation services to persons who have acquired physical injury and/or cognitive challenges due to brain injury. The Rehabilitation Medicine unit features state-of-the-art equipment to assist individuals in attaining maximum physical, cognitive, psychosocial, educational, and vocational capabilities. Physicians are affiliated with NYU and are specially trained in the treatment of individuals with brain injuries.
The prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.
The list is based on four data pillars:
- Rehabilitation Quality Metrics: Medical indicators (e.g., data on quality of care, readmissions, medication management, vaccination rates, infections ratios) for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, published by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- National online survey: from April to June 2026, an online survey among experts with knowledge of physical rehabilitation centers (physicians, physiotherapists, doctors, clinic managers and other health care professionals) was conducted in cooperation with Newsweek.
- Quality designations: Official recognition by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center program for meeting quality and safety standards as well as advancing rehabilitation through research and data.
- Google Reviews: patient and relatives’ feedback reflected in Google ratings were used as a proxy for patient experience.
See the rankings here: America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2026.
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MEDIA CONTACT: 212-562-4516; BellevuePublicRelations@nychhc.org
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue is America’s oldest public hospital, established in 1736. Affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the 851-bed hospital is a major referral center for highly complex cases, with 6,000 employees including highly skilled, interdisciplinary clinical staff. The hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and annually it sees about 110,000 emergency room visits, and more than 520,000 outpatient visits. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Cardiovascular Services; Bariatric Surgery; Designated Regional Perinatal Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program; and Cancer Services. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/bellevue and follow us on Facebook and X (Twitter).
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.