Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has earned a distinguished three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures.
The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places RWJUH among the elite for heart bypass surgery in the U.S. and Canada.
RWJUH is part of the RWJBarnabas Health system.
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 across the U.S. and Canada. The star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures performed by an STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participant.
Dr. Mark Russo, chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery and director of structural heart disease at RWJUH, said the honor is noteworthy.
“Achieving the Society of Thoracic Surgery’s three-star designation is among the highest honors a cardiac surgery program can receive,” he said. “It reflects our entire team’s commitment to pioneering advances in cardiac care, including less-invasive surgical approaches, rapid and enhanced recovery protocols, and a uniquely collaborative heart team approach.
“Further, this distinction demonstrates our institution’s relentless drive for excellence, and our profound dedication to the health and well-being of our patients and community.”
RWJUH President Alan Lee agreed.
“Earning this rating is truly a team effort,” he said. “All of our highly skilled and qualified surgeons, cardiologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, cardiac anesthesiologists, perfusionists and technicians work together seamlessly to provide outstanding care and achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients.”
The RWJUH premier cardiac services provide immediate access to highly sophisticated heart surgery. Its cardiovascular surgeons bring their combined expertise to provide patients access to the full spectrum of adult complex cardiovascular care. Our staff includes certified specialists in noninvasive risk assessment, preventive cardiology, treatment of hypertensive and atherosclerotic disorders, diagnostic cardiac catheterization and intervention, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, and pacemaker and automatic cardiac defibrillator implant and follow-up. Advanced cardiothoracic surgery procedures offered at RWJUH include:
- Aneurysm repair;
- Aortic Root repair and replacement;
- All valve repair and replacement;
- Coronary artery bypass grafting;
- Minimally Invasive and Robotic Heart Surgery;
- TAVR;
- Transcatheter mitral valve repair;
- Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement;
- Transmyocardial revascularization;
- Ventricular Assist Devices;
- Heart transplantation;
- Septal myectomy.
The STS National Database was established in 1989 as an initiative for quality improvement and patient safety among cardiothoracic surgeons.
