The Cooper Heart Institute’s Cardiothoracic Surgery program has received “3 Star” ratings from the prestigious Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in two separate categories: coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and aortic valve replacement surgery (AVR). It is the organization’s highest quality ranking, and Cooper is among only two percent of participating hospitals with similar programs to earn “3 Star” ratings in both categories.
“We are extremely proud of our cardiothoracic surgery team for their unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality cardiac surgery in the region,” said John P. Sheridan, Jr., President and CEO of The Cooper Health System.
This is the fifth year in a row that Cooper was recognized for outstanding performance in CABG procedures, placing it among the top 15 percent in the country. STS based this ranking on CABG procedures performed from January 2012 to December 2012. The AVR ratings, which were based on Cooper’s outcomes from January 2010 to December 2012, ranked Cooper in the top six percent nationally. It is only the second time AVR was evaluated, and Cooper was recognized with this prestigious ranking both times.
The Cooper Heart Institute’s cardiothoracic program is led by a team of surgeons who are nationally renowned for innovative treatment options and superior patient outcomes. They include Division Head Michael Rosenbloom, MD; Richard Y. Highbloom, MD; and Frank W. Bowen, III, MD.
“These are outstanding achievements that could not have been accomplished without the team approach to care that we take with each patient,” noted Dr. Rosenbloom. “We share credit for these achievements with our colleagues in cardiology, cardiac anesthesia, critical care medicine as well as the physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, techs and perfusion staff.”
Earning “3 Star” ratings places Cooper in the highest quality tier of the STS’s comprehensive rating system, which measures the quality of cardiac surgery among hospitals across the country. Multiple aspects are measured, including compliance with recommended quality measures during surgery, adherence to appropriate medication usage before and after surgery, and patient outcomes.
The STS maintains the nation’s largest and most comprehensive single-specialty database with over 900 hospitals and 3.5 million patient records. It is considered one of the most highly regarded databases in all of health care.