New York (06/09/97) Vol. 30, No. 22, P. 49

The new combination drug therapies are changing the way AIDS is perceived, making it no longer only an inpatient illness. Many hospitals in New York City are now reporting 25 percent to 30 percent fewer AIDS admissions, and they are often for shorter stays. New York magazine recently asked patients, caregivers, doctors, and researchers about the quality of AIDS care in New York City hospitals. The facilities given the highest marks were New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York University Medical Center, Bellevue Hospital Center, Beth-Israel Medical Center, and St. Vincent's Hospital. NYU- Cornell was praised for its relatively short emergency-room waits, its food, and its top-flight AIDS-care unit, which features 11 full-time physicians and a five-to-one patient-to- nurse ratio. The hospital is also leading 20 AIDS-research trials and is building a $2.5 million walk-in clinic at the Gay Men's Health Crisis center in Chelsea. Meanwhile, NYU Medical Center, ranked highly in almost all of the categories, was noted for its research prowess and its highly trained doctors. Bellevue was recognized for its high level of clinical care, with 36 specialty physicians, as well as the quality of its care for children. Finally, Beth-Israel was recognized for its high standard of service and comfort, as well as its access to the latest research, while St. Vincent's, one of the oldest and most highly respected hospitals, was noted for its nurses, who introduce themselves to patients at the beginning of each shift.