December 20, 2023 — Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), part of Northwell Health, proudly announces its inclusion among the select few hospitals in Northwell Health to achieve the coveted three-star overall quality ratings by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its outstanding cardiothoracic surgery program. This prestigious recognition places SIUH in the top echelons of surgical excellence.
The cardiothoracic surgery programs at four Northwell Health hospitals received this distinguished accolade, showcasing their commitment to delivering exceptional care and achieving outstanding outcomes. The hospitals, including Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital (SABHH) at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset, Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH) in Manhattan, Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), and South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) in Bay Shore, demonstrated unparalleled performance in several surgical categories analyzed by STS.
Dr. Mitchell Weinberg, Chair of Cardiology at SIUH, expressed his pride, stating, “Demonstrating consistent excellence, the SIUH cardiothoracic team has once again showcased its position among the country's finest. The ratings clearly illustrate our teams' unwavering commitment to providing unparalleled outcomes for our patients during advanced open-heart surgery. SIUH’s emergence as a national leader in cardiovascular surgery reflects the organization's tireless pursuit of clinical excellence at the highest level”.
The STS star rating system is renowned as one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded measures of quality in healthcare nationally. It evaluates performance in five surgical categories, including isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery, CABG + AVR surgery, isolated mitral valve repair/replacement (MVRR), and CABG + mitral valve replacement/repair surgery (CABG + MVRR).
Key Achievements of Northwell Health’s Cardiothoracic Programs:
- Isolated CABG Surgery: All four programs, including SIUH, received a three-star overall quality rating, representing 22.2% of participants nationally scored in this category.
- Isolated AVR Surgery: NSUH earned a prestigious three-star quality overall rating, representing only 2.6% of national participants scored receiving that rating.
- CABG+AVR Surgery: SSUH received three stars, representing just 4.8% of national participants scored.
- MVRR Surgery: NSUH and LHH achieved a three-star rating, representing only 10.4% of participants nationally scored.
- CABG+MVRR Surgery: SSUH and LHH achieved a three-star rating, representing 9.2% of participants scored nationally to earn the top rating.
To support cardiac surgery patients post-discharge, Northwell Health offers the "Follow Your Heart" program, providing home visits to patients who have undergone open-heart surgery. A nurse practitioner or physician assistant follows patients through their recovery, offering timely care, addressing concerns, and reducing preventable hospital readmissions.
STS is a nonprofit organization representing over 7,700 surgeons, researchers, and health professionals in 110 countries, dedicated to ensuring optimal outcomes for surgeries within the chest. Northwell Health's participation in the STS adult cardiac surgery database underscores its commitment to quality improvement and transparent outcomes.
For more information: https://siuh.northwell.edu/
April 23, 2024 
