Northwell Cardiothoracic Programs Recognized for Top Performance by Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital achieves superior quality ratings in all five cardiac surgical categories

Four Northwell Health hospitals with cardiothoracic surgery programs – Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH) in Manhattan, Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) and South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) in Bay Shore – earned prestigious three-star quality overall ratings in the several cardiac surgical categories analyzed by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). The latest report included data from 906 cardiothoracic surgical programs across the United States and Canada.

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Cardiothoracic surgical team at Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital performs open-heart surgery. Photo credit: Northwell Health

The Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital (SABHH) at NSUH has achieved three-star overall quality ratings – the highest possible performance rating – in all five cardiac surgical categories analyzed by the STS. In addition, North Shore University Hospital was nationally recognized in eight specialties on U.S. News and World Report’s 2021-2022 best hospital ranking including cardiology and heart surgery at the SABHH.

“I applaud all our colleagues at North Shore, Lenox Hill, South Shore and Staten Island for achieving the highest quality ratings by the STS in their respective cardiac surgical categories,” said Alan R. Hartman, MD, senior vice president and executive director of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Northwell Health. “The superior ratings reflect the expertise and excellent quality cardiac surgical outcomes we provide to patients in the region.

“Achieving top performance in every cardiac surgery category, which the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital did, is truly a significant accomplishment. The data demonstrates we are delivering the superior quality cardiac surgical care to our patients and provides critical information for people in our region to make informed decisions about their health care.”

The STS star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery, CABG + AVR surgery, isolated mitral valve replacement/repair (MVRR), and CABG + MVRR surgery.

LHH, SIUH and SSUH earned prestigious three-star quality overall ratings for the isolated CABG. Lenox Hill and Staten Island earned a top rating for isolated MV replacement/repair and South Shore achieved a three-star rating for CABG+AVR.

“I am proud to work alongside our surgeons and entire team whose tireless work and dedication have earned the department another three-star rating,” said S. Jacob Scheinerman, MD, chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital. “These fantastic results exemplify why patients should be confident that, under our surgeons’ care, they will return to their normal lifestyle quickly.”

The STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Report analyzed data from participants for five cardiac surgical categories over a three-year period, from July 2018 to June 2021, the most recent reporting data period available. The ratings are calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures.

NSUH, which also earned the highest marks across all five categories in 2019, one of only three in the nation to do so, scored highest in isolated AVR, which places them in the top 4 percent of all hospitals scored. NSUH and SSUH also placed in the top 5 percent of all hospitals for CABG+AVR.

A nonprofit organization representing more than 7,600 surgeons, researchers and other health professionals worldwide, STS strives to ensure the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lungs, esophagus and other procedures within the chest by enhancing the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality of care through education, research and advocacy.

Participation in the STS adult cardiac surgery database is voluntary, highlighting the importance of Northwell’s commitment to quality improvement and transparency of outcomes.

For information about the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Public Reporting, see the society’s website: https://publicreporting.sts.org

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 22 hospitals, 830 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 77,000 employees – 18,900 nurses and 4,900 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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