FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2011
Contact: Rob
Brogna
508-793-5394
774-317-0422
robert.brogna@umassmemorial.org
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/umassmemorial
WORCESTER - The Cardiac Surgery Program at UMass Memorial
Medical Center has received a three-star (above national average) rating for
heart bypass surgery from Consumer Reports magazine. The Medical Center
is one of only 81 groups nationwide to receive above national average ratings
based on overall performance, complications and other quality measures.
The data comes from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), which gathers
information from more than 90 percent of the roughly 1,100 surgical groups in
the U.S. that perform heart surgery. The ratings, which are available in the
magazine's September issue, allow consumers to compare surgical groups that
perform heart bypass surgery.
"The best quality outcomes for cardiac surgery patients require not only the
best surgeons but also a high-performance team that works cohesively together as
a unit, consistently and reliably moving patients seamlessly through the care
process," noted Stanley Tam, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery. "This top
ranking demonstrates that we are working very well together and that our ongoing
solid record of performance and outstanding patient care."
The Consumer Reports rating is the latest in a string of
achievements for the Cardiac Surgery Program which is a national leader in
quality and safety based on measures established by the STS:
- UMass Memorial has been awarded three
stars from STS - the highest rating - for the past five years, and is one of
only 12 percent of hospitals that receive the three-star rating.
- The program has a lower mortality rate than the state average for isolated
coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), according to the most recent report
(2009) by the Massachusetts Data Analysis Center
- In 2010, the program had a zero percent mortality rate for patients
undergoing isolated CABG surgery
- In 2009 the UMass Memorial's cardiac surgery
program received the Betsy Lehman Patient Safety Recognition Award for
accomplishments in building a culture of safety, reducing health care-associated
infections, enhancing data monitoring resulting in evidence-based best practices
and focusing on new system-based solutions to support ongoing improvement in
quality and patient safety.
About UMass Memorial Medical Center
UMass Memorial
Medical Center is the advanced tertiary care referral center for Central New
England. The Medical Center offers a full complement of sophisticated technology
and support services necessary to provide the region with specialists renowned
for their work in areas such as cardiology, cancer, diabetes and orthopedics. To
learn more about UMass Memorial, please visit www.umassmemorial.org, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.