5 Long Island hospitals recognized for high quality diabetes care

Five Long Island hospitals were recognized among the top hospitals nationwide for their high quality of care for patients with diabetes.

The Leapfrog Group and the American Diabetes Association recognized Glen Cove Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Mather Hospital, Plainview Hospital and Syosset Hospital, along with 32 other hospitals across 14 states as having the highest quality of care for patients with diabetes.

The five Long Island hospitals — all in Northwell Health’s network — were the only hospitals in New York State that made the cut, according to Leapfrog’s list.

Washington, D.C.-based Leapfrog and the American Diabetes Association rated hospitals based on how they evaluate patients, help them plan meals and their insulin routine, and treat and discharge them, said Jean-Luc Tilly, Leapfrog’s program director for ratings. The hospitals also were rated on how they respond to emergency scenarios, like a severe drop in blood sugar.

The award recognizes that “this hospital has put in a lot of extra time and effort” to put “specific structures and processes in place for people with diabetes,” Tilly said. These are hospitals that are paying “particular attention to this area” based on “evidence-based guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.”

The award comes as diabetes remains a prevalent condition in the United States — with roughly 12% of the population estimated to have the condition nationwide — and on Long Island. The United States spends roughly $335 billion on diabetes care each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of 2021, roughly 9.1% of adults in Nassau and 9.5% of adults in Suffolk reported having diabetes, according to a 2023 New York State report.

Leapfrog invited more than 2,000 hospitals to apply for the recognition, but just 58 applied to be evaluated, Tilly said.

Michael Scarpelli, president of Plainview Hospital and Syosset Hospital, said his hospitals decided to apply for the recognition to let local residents know they can receive diabetes care at either of the two facilities.

“We do have a lot of people living in our area that suffer from diabetes, and this is their closest hospital,” Scarpelli said. “We want to make sure that they know that they're coming to a center that really dedicates the time, the effort and the commitment to ensuring that every patient that comes in with diabetes really feels confident in the level of care and service.”

Scarpelli said staffs at both hospitals work together to monitor a patient’s glucose levels, coordinate insulin delivery with meals, and make sure that when patients are discharged, they “know exactly what to expect” when it comes to monitoring their own glucose and taking medication outside a hospital setting.

Hospital awards and ratings can help patients evaluate care, but experts advise that specific ratings shouldn’t be a patient’s only metric, Newsday reported. Patients should research how hospitals specifically treat their condition through a handful of sources, such as federal data and Leapfrog’s safety rankings, Tilly said.

For most patients, primary care providers are a good start, added Dr. Maria Carney, president of Glen Cove Hospital and a physician.

“What people should really consider is finding a good primary care physician for their needs,” Carney said. “If you’re living with diabetes, you may present with different complications” and patients need to ask “who is going to advocate for the right access to care?”