Cardiac Surgery Quality Care

Last Updated: June 2009

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has developed a comprehensive rating system that allows for comparisons regarding the quality of cardiac surgery among hospitals across the country. Approximately 14% of hospitals receive the "3 star" rating, which denotes the highest category of quality.

In the current analysis of nation data covering the period from July 2007 to June 2008, the cardiac surgery performance of Lancaster General Hospital was found to lie in the highest quality tier, thereby receiving an STS 3 Star rating.

The graphics presented below compare the outcomes of various Cardiac Surgery quality indicators of Lancaster General Hospital to that of the national averages as reported by the STS.

Annual Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Procedure Volume

Procedure volume shows the number of cases performed per year a particular facility, and may be used to denote clinical expertise. Numerous studies demonstrate that higher volume of a particular procedure, such as CABG, is significantly linked to better outcomes according to The Leapfrog Group.

The Leapfrog Group has endorsed the performance assessment system for CABG mortality in Pennsylvania (PHC4). To qualify for assessment by performance instead of volume, a hospital’s results must be based on at least 350 CABGs as reported in its state’s most recent publicly-reported results.

For calendar year 2008 (January through September 2008), Lancaster General Hospital has performed:

381 Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgeries

423 Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) without Valve Surgeries

551 Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) with Valve Surgeries