July 24, 2007
Contact: Susan Brandt, (434) 947-4730

In the latest measure of clinical excellence, Centra Health’s Stroobants Heart Center of Virginia once again ranks among the nation’s top hospitals for cardiac care. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has awarded Centra Health a three-star rating--its highest rating for a hospital’s level of quality in cardiac surgery.

Only 15 percent of the 746 hospitals participating in the analysis of national data from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006, were awarded the three-star ranking for cardiac surgery performance.

“We are extremely honored to have been awarded the three-star designation by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons,” said David Frantz, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon. “This rating is testimony from the national organization for cardiac surgery to the excellence of our heart center and our cardiothoracic surgery program. Our patients can be assured they are receiving the highest quality care available in the country.”

The STS National Adult Cardiac Surgery Database, established 20 years ago, is considered the national gold standard for cardiothoracic surgery. Using its database, STS recently developed a comprehensive rating system to compare the quality of cardiac surgery among hospitals across the country. Centra Health submits data to the STS database biannually. This is the first time the STS has awarded one, two or three-star ratings to hospitals.

“The STS considered four core quality indicators, including complication rates, mortality rates and other significant measures in the provision of cardiothoracic surgery and recovery,” said Skip Meador, Centra Health vice president of cardiovascular and neurosciences. “The results are an assurance to the community, and more importantly, our patients—that when they choose us for heart surgery, they are getting the best quality care in the nation.”

Robert Messier, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon, credited teamwork at the Stroobants Heart Center of Virginia as a major reason the center continues to earn national recognition.

“The three-star rating from the STS bears witness to the teamwork and the collaborative spirit within our heart program,” he said. “Teamwork and cooperation among our staff—from the emergency department to the cardiologists, nurses and physicians assistants—make these results possible. The designation especially reflects on the commitment to quality by the late John Bell, M.D., who championed the quality process at our heart center.”

Centra Health and the Stroobants Heart Center of Virginia routinely win accolades for quality advanced heart care. This year, Centra Health was named a 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospital for the fourth time by Solucient.