Top Honors for Cardiac Care

St. Francis Hospital Ranked Among the Best, Again

It is reassuring to know that if you or a loved one is facing heart surgery or other cardiac procedure, you can find the best care right here on Long Island.

In addition to being the only Long Island hospital that is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in cardiology and heart surgery, St. Francis was recognized once again by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) for excellence in cardiac care.

In its latest cardiac reports, St. Francis was identified as having one of the highest volumes in the state for PCI procedures (coronary angioplasty with stent) and one of the best success rates. St. Francis was one of six hospitals in the state to earn the two-star rating for risk-adjusted mortality rates significantly below the statewide average, and its cardiologists performed the largest caseload on Long Island. Interventional cardiologist Andrew Lituchy, M.D., earned a two-star rating for outstanding results in non-emergency cases over the three-year period covered by the report.

In a companion report on cardiac surgery, three St. Francis surgeons were recognized with two-star ratings for their outstanding results: Roberto Colangelo, M.D., and James Taylor, M.D., whose risk-adjusted mortality rates for valve, bypass, and valve/bypass surgery combined were significantly below the statewide average. Harold Fernandez, M.D., was similarly recognized for bypass surgery. Once again, St. Francis had the largest cardiac surgical caseload in the state, a distinction it has held every year since 1992, when the Department of Health began collecting, analyzing and reporting cardiac surgical outcomes.

“These latest reports demonstrate once again that a large cardiac caseload means that our physicians and staff have a high degree of experience, and that experience translates into better outcomes for patients,” said Alan D. Guerci, M.D., President and CEO of St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center®. “Our cardiologists and heart surgeons, and the staff teams that work with them, set the highest standards in patient care, and they are to be congratulated for their accomplishments.”

Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) in New York State, 2007-2009 and Adult Cardiac Surgery in New York State, 2076-2009, can be found on the New York State Department of Health website: http://www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/diseases/cardiovascular/

For more information about the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at St. Francis Hospital, click here.