Cardiac Surgery Team Top Rated for Heart Bypass Surgery

The Cardiothoracic Surgery Division at Stony Brook University Hospital has once again earned the distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG or heart bypass surgery) procedures. The three-star rating —  which is the highest quality rating  — places Stony Brook University Hospital among the elite for heart bypass surgery in the U.S. and Canada. The latest rating period is from July 2020 to June 2023. Stony Brook received its first three-star rating in 2017, and has consistently received top ratings since.

Stony Brook has consistently received the top-rating for heart bypass surgery. 

Top-Rated Outcomes and Quality of Care

The STS three-star rating — one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in healthcare — that Stony Brook achieved is an “Overall Composite Score” for patient outcomes and quality of care for isolated CABG surgery procedures performed. It measures a surgical team’s performance before, during and after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

“At Stony Brook, we take great pride in our comprehensive heart program that has a long legacy of bringing the highest quality standards to benefit our patients and their families,” says Carol Gomes, Chief Executive Office, Stony Brook University Hospital. “And we remain laser-focused on serving our community with the most advanced technology, our outstanding cardiovascular staff and the full spectrum of lifesaving cardiac interventions.”   

How the Ratings are Determined

To determine the star ratings, the STS collects information from adult cardiothoracic surgical programs that participate in the STS National Database. The public reporting of participants’ star ratings is voluntary and demonstrates a commitment to providing ever-improving quality healthcare. More than 95 percent of hospitals in the U.S. with cardiothoracic surgical programs submit data to the STS, and approximately 20 percent of  participants receive the three-star rating for CABG surgery. 

"The three-star rating is a testament to our team's deep dedication to bringing the best in cardiac care to our community and beyond," says Henry J. Tannous, MD, Co-Director, Heart Institute, Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery and General T.F. Cheng Chair, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University. “Patients can have peace of mind knowing they’re getting care from one of the top-rated facilities in the nation.” 

Credible, Reliable Information for Patients

Isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is the most often performed cardiac surgery, but like any open-heart procedure, it requires a high degree of expertise to achieve clinical excellence. STS star ratings of sites enrolled in public reporting provide accurate, unbiased information about the quality and safety of the care provided by different heart surgery providers. It is considered the definitive national reporting system for cardiac surgery.

The Full Spectrum of Quality Cardiac Care

“The STS rating is based on the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery’s experience in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, and we believe that the quality and expertise illustrated by the top rating is reflective of the entire Heart Institute’s dedication to excellence in patient care,” says Dr. Tannous. In addition to the bypass surgery, Stony Brook surgeons regularly perform the full spectrum of cardiac lifesaving procedures. A few examples include:

• TAVR. Stony Brook Heart Institute offers the minimally invasive procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for high, intermediate or low-risk patients. 
• Mitral Valve Repair. Stony Brook is one of the few surgical practices that has specialized experience in mitral valve repair surgeries.
• Electrophysiology. The Stony Brook Heart Rhythm Center performs in- and outpatient evaluation and management of all types cardiac arrhythmias.
• Cardiac Catheterization. Our specialists handle the most complex procedures on-site, so patients can be treated quickly and made stable without any transport time. Our Advanced Cath/EP Lab is equipped with the latest imaging for greater precision and safety. 

Our Stony Brook Heart Institute cardiothoracic surgeons:

Henry J. Tannous, MD, Co-Director, Stony Brook Heart Institute; Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery; Surgical Director, Structural Heart Program; and General T.F. Cheng Chair, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
Ankit Dhamija, MD
Sathappan Kumar, MD
Allison J. McLarty, MD, Surgical Director, Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program
Jonathan D. Price, MD

The Stony Brook Difference

• Healthgrades has named Stony Brook University Hospital as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care™. Stony Brook is one of only two hospitals in NYS to be named among America's 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care for ten years in a row. 
• A full cardiac surgery team is available 24/7 for any level of patient care needed — from simple to complex — so the patient can be treated at one place without losing valuable, lifesaving time.
• Testing and treatments are delivered by medical faculty physicians, making Stony Brook Medicine the only academic-based facility of its kind in Suffolk County.