Hackensack Meridian Health academic medical centers Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center, which are licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health for open heart surgery, have earned distinguished three-star ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for their patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting and isolated aortic valve replacement surgeries.
The three-star ratings, which denote the highest category of quality, place them among the elite for heart bypass surgery and AVR surgery in the U.S. and Canada. 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. The star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures performed by an STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participant.
Approximately 20% of participants receive the three-star rating for isolated CABG surgery. The latest analysis of data for CABG surgery covers a 3-year period, from January 2018 to June 2021, and includes nine participating surgeons, collectively, at the medical centers. Historically, approximately 4-8% of participants receive the three-star rating for isolated AVR surgery. The latest analysis of data for AVR surgery covers a 3-year period, from January 2018 to June 2021, and also includes the nine participating surgeons.
“A three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons is among the most prestigious accolades for hospitals with open heart surgery licensure,” said Elizabeth Maiorana, vice president, cardiovascular care transformation services, Hackensack Meridian Health. “This is a wonderful confirmation of the exceptional surgical cardiac care provided for patients at Hackensack University and Jersey Shore University medical centers.”
Jersey Shore University Medical Center also earned three-star ratings from the STS in aortic valve replacement, combined with coronary artery bypass grafting, as well as isolated mitral valve replacement and repair surgery. This places the academic medical center among the elite in the U.S. and Canada in these procedures.
Historically, approximately 4-7% of participants receive the three-star rating for AVR+CABG surgery. The latest analysis of data for AVR+CABG surgery and MVRR surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center covers a 3-year period, from January 2018 to June 2021, and includes four participating surgeons.
“The Society of Thoracic Surgeons congratulates STS National Database participants who have received three-star ratings,” said Dr. David Shahian, chair of the task force on quality measurement. “Participation in the database and public reporting demonstrates a commitment to quality improvement in health care delivery and helps provide patients and their families with meaningful information to help them make informed decisions about health care.”
