Heart Center Receives Three-Star Rating for Cardiac Surgery

November 23, 2009

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Heart Center at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has received the highest possible recognition for quality cardiac surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).  

The STS developed the comprehensive rating system that compares the quality of cardiac surgery among about 900 hospitals across the country. Hospitals that receive the three-star rating are in the estimated top 10 percent. 

“We certainly appreciate the recognition from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for our level of clinical excellence,” said Rich Lundy, administrative director of cardiology diagnostic services at Wake Forest Baptist. “Our Heart Center’s multidisciplinary team is dedicated to the highest standards of care for our patients, and this dedication helped place us in the top tier for cardiovascular care.”              

The ratings from the STS are the result of an analysis of national data from the its National Adult Cardiac Surgery Database and cover the period from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.

The Heart Center recently received the American College of Cardiology Foundation’s NCDR ACTION Registry–GWTG Gold Performance Achievement Award for 2009, recognizing commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients during the past two years. The award signifies that Wake Forest Baptist’s Heart Center has reached an aggressive goal of treating coronary artery disease patients with core standard levels of care outlined by the guidelines and recommendations of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA).

For more information about the Heart Center, go to wfubmc.edu/heart/.

Media Relations

Ann Hopkins: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587

Bonnie Davis: bdavis@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-1597