The K-Kids Club at Hampton Street School in Mineola recently donated boxes full of toys to Winthrop-University Hospital's Pediatric Inpatient Center and Child Life activity room. The elementary school club is a division of Kiwanis International created to develop future generations of leaders.

The club raised $300 toward the donation through various fundraisers throughout the year, including Valentine's Day candy grams, while County Seat Kiwanis donated another $200 for the K-Kids Clubs' efforts. Toys for all ages were purchased for children spending time at Winthrop to enjoy.

In addition to the K-Kids' donation, the County Sea Kiwanis club raised an additional $1,500 for Winthrop's Pediatric Inpatient center and pediatric programs and services.

Winthrop's Child Life Program addresses the unique emotional and developmental needs of children, as well as their families, helping them cope with the anxiety hospitalization can cause. The Child Life activity room, housed in Winthrop's new 15,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Pediatric Inpatient Center, is a designated "safe haven," a place where kids can just be kids, away from tests, needles and treatments.

For more information on the Child Life Program or the new Pediatric Inpatient Center at Winthrop-University Hospital, call 1-877-559-KIDS.

Winthrop has received 5-Star ratings for clinical excellence in Obstetrics Services for 2004, according to an announcement from HealthGrades, the national healthcare quality company. This distinction places Winthrop in the top 10 percent in the nation for these services.

These obstetrics ratings are especially relevant as women make up to 90 percent of all healthcare decisions, represent 60 percent of all physician visits and spend two-thirds of all healthcare dollars in America, according to HealthLeaders News, a leading on-line publication. Surveys by HealthGrades and other organizations also show that women are more likely to research their healthcare and choose higher-rated hospitals and physicians, based on quality outcomes.

"Every member of the Winthrop team should be very proud of this achievement, as this is just another demonstration of the outstanding efforts of our physicians and staff, said Daniel P. Walsh, president and CEO. "We work hard to ensure each mother and newborn receives world class care in a warm and welcoming environment."

Each year nearly 5,000 babies begin their lives in Winthrop's New Life Center, a modern, up-to-date facility that offers 16 labor-delivery-recovery rooms. While the ambiance is tranquil and non-clinical, expectant families can feel secure in the knowledge that the sophisticated technology and vast resources of a major, university-affiliated medical center are close at hand should a complication develop. And, Winthrop is designated a New York State Regional Perinatal Center (RPC), supporting the hospital's ability to deliver the highest level of obstetrical and perinatal care to patients throughout the region.

"The nature of obstetrics, in particular, allows families the time to make careful decisions about where to receive their healthcare," said Genevieve Sicuranza, MD, chief of Obstetrics at Winthrop. "Providing this information about Winthrop's outstanding clinical performance will allow families to make thoughtful choices about where to experience this important event in their lives."

HealthGrades independently analyzed 1,769 hospitals in 16 states nationwide for its 2004 ratings, objectively assessing their clinical performances and quality. The HealthGrades ratings measure whether patient outcomes in Obstetrics Services are better than expected (5-Star), as expected (3 Star) or worse than expected (1 Star). Earning a 5-Star designation indicates that a hospital has scored in the top 15 percent or better in the nation for clinical quality.

The 2004 HealthGrades ratings for Obstetrics are based on the following criteria: hospital birthing volume, in-hospital complication rates, presence or absence of a neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal mortaliy (by weight classification), and unspecified (or non-indicated) elective primary cesarean section complication rates. HealthGrades' ratings methodology was developed and tested by a team of Board Certified physicians, including experts in Obstetrics, Neonatalogy, Family Practice and Internal Medicine.

"HealthGrades produces its annual hospital Report Cards on Obstetrics and a wide range of other procedures and diagnoses with the mission of helping consumers make better and more informed healthcare choices," explained Sarah Loughran, HealthGrades Senior Vice President. "Our primary goal in advancing public reporting is to improve the quality of healthcare in America.

"It is very important for women and their families in the Long Island community to be aware of this information and the outstanding clinical quality ratings earned by Winthrop University Hospital," Ms. Lougran added. "There is a tremendous difference in clinical outcomes between healthcare facilities."

HealthGrades is a healthcare-quality ratings, information and advisory services company whose clients include healthcare providers, employers, healthplans, insurance companies and consumers. With its objective provider ratings and expert advisory services, HealthGrades is creating the standard for healthcare quality. HealthGrades provides its clients with targeted solutions that enable them to measure, assess, enhance and market healthcare quality.

Winthrop-University Hospital is a 591-bed university-affiliated medical center and Level 1 Trauma Center that continues to distinguish itself as a major regional healthcare resource in Nassau County. Winthrop offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient services from newborn care to a highly regarded geriatric program. For more information about Winthrop-University Hospital call 1-866-WINTHROP or visit www.winthrop.org.