CINCINNATI (November 8, 2023) – The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute has been awarded a distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for patient care and outcomes in isolated mitral valve replacement and repair (MVRR) surgery. The network also received a three-star rating for its patient care and outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
The STS three-star rating denotes the highest category of quality, which places The Christ Hospital Health Network among the elite for MVRR and CABG surgery in North America. The STS rating is further proof of the cardiac care team’s reputation as leaders in heart care and commitment to providing patients with innovative treatments for heart valve disease.
“These three-star ratings come from the most respected organization in the country that grades and ranks heart surgery outcomes and validates what we continue to provide as Cincinnati’s heart hospital,” said J. Michael Smith, MD, Medical Director of cardiovascular and mitral valve surgery program at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “As our program continues to expand and further provide the latest innovative surgical techniques, including robotics, our patients know they will have both faster recoveries and better overall outcomes.”
In the Tristate, as many as 85% of individuals with a single diseased heart valve are candidates for a minimally invasive procedure, but early detection is crucial to saving lives. Many routine coronary bypass cases can now be performed robotically. Left untreated, a leaky or diseased valve puts strain on the heart and may lead to heart failure, stroke, and sudden death.
“This distinction proves once again that The Christ Hospital Health Network is doing everything it takes to meet the highest objective measures for cardiac surgery not just locally but nationwide,” Geoff Answini, MD, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Patients undergoing these procedures know when they come to The Christ Hospital, they are in the best care they can receive without having to leave the region.”
Five million individuals are diagnosed annually with heart valve disease, which alters the flow of blood through the heart. Stenosis, the most common form of the disease, occurs when a valve becomes stiff and fails to completely open; regurgitation occurs when a heart valve fails to close properly and blood leaks back into the heart.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 6,500 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region, named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2023. It is also a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award recipient, which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above of performance in patient experience.
About The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
Founded in 1964, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 7,600 surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lungs, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. It seeks to improve the lives of patients with cardiothoracic diseases and to advance cardiothoracic surgeons’ delivery of the highest quality patient care through collaboration, education, research, and advocacy.