St. Vincent's Ranks First in Cardiac Surgery Open Heart Procedures Among New York City Hospitals
06/02/2008
-- Greenwich Village Hospital Best Among 16 Heart Centers In City For Most Common Form Of Open Heart Surgery --
Contact: Mary Mooney
212.604.2675
New York, NY, May 7, 2008 - A recently released New York State Department of Health (DOH) report on adult coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery mortality rates showed that St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan has the best risk-adjusted mortality rate in New York City for bypass surgery. The CABG procedure is the most common form of open heart surgery.
'St. Vincent's has an outstanding record as a leader in cardiac care, and the latest findings from the state prove our commitment to providing the highest quality of care. The expertise of our surgical and nursing staff, as well as access to cutting edge technology, ensure that our cardiac patients truly receive the best possible care,' said Henry Amoroso, St. Vincent's President and CEO.
According to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, coronary artery bypass grafting (or 'CABG' often pronounced 'cabbage') is the most commonly performed 'open heart' operation in the United States. Cardiothoracic surgeons perform the procedure to bypass blockages or obstructions of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients. When the heart does not get these fuels, ischemic heart disease develops. When the heart is sufficiently ischemic (when the shortage of fuel is critical enough), the muscle begins to die and can lead to chest pain or a heart attack. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that in 2005, 469,000 coronary artery bypass procedures were performed in the US.
The DOH's Adult Cardiac Surgery in New York State 2003-2005 report ranked St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan #1 in CABG mortality rates in New York City, with St. Vincent's scoring the lowest Risk-Adjusted Mortality Rate (RAMR) among both the nine heart centers in Manhattan and the total of 16 designated heart centers in the five boroughs. St. Vincent's risk-adjusted mortality rate for CABG in 2005 was 0.81% - less than half the New York statewide average of 2.07%. This finding represents the 2nd consecutive time St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan has had a RAMR less than 1.0% (0.88% in 2004).
The DOH report includes information on coronary artery bypass graft surgery, valve surgery, and the two procedures done in combination during 2003-2005 at the 39 hospitals in New York State where these procedures are performed. The RAMR is calculated by DOH to represent the best estimate, based on the associated statistical model, of what the provider's mortality rate would have been if the provider had a mix of patients identical to the statewide mix. RAMR is used in the report as a measure of quality for providers, and represents the best estimate of how cardiac centers perform on average after adjustments have been made for patient risk.
'I am extremely proud of the results released in the report by the New York State Department of Health showing our excellent record in bypass surgery,' said Dr. Samuel Lang, chief of cardiothoracic surgery. 'The report reflects the expertise of our dedicated cardiac surgery team to produce the best possible outcomes for all of our patients.'
St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan has a long history of excellence in cardiac care, offering the most advanced cardiovascular diagnostic and treatment procedures available, including stent grafting, valve replacement surgery, minimally invasive surgery, aortic homograft, and aneurysm repair.
About Saint Vincent's
Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers (Saint Vincent's) is anchored by St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, an academic medical center located in Greenwich Village and the only emergency room on the Westside of Manhattan from Midtown to Tribeca, St. Vincent's Westchester, a behavioral health hospital in Westchester County, and continuing care services that include two skilled nursing facilities in Brooklyn, another on Staten Island, a hospice, and a home health agency serving the Metropolitan New York area. Its behavioral health services also provide supportive housing programs for people with mental illness throughout the Metropolitan area. Saint Vincent's is the designated provider for the New York and New Jersey region of the US Family Health Plan sponsored by the US Department of Defense.
Saint Vincent's serves as the academic medical center of New York Medical College in New York City. The healthcare organization is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn and the president of the Sisters of Charity of New York.
