Newswise — ORLANDO, Fla. (February 5, 2016) --- Orlando Health received its second, consecutive Overall 3 Star Rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for providing excellent care to patients undergoing bypass surgery and lobectomy for lung cancer.
The 3 Star Rating, the highest mark, is a quality score based on hospital statistics and outcomes in the Society’s National Adult Cardiac Surgery Database and the Society’s General Thoracic Database. The most recent evaluation period is July 2014 through June 2015 for bypass surgery, and July 2012 through June 2015 for lung cancer surgery.
“We remain committed to delivering the best care for our patients,” said Jeffrey Bott, MD, thoracic surgery chair, Orlando Regional Medical Center, a part of Orlando Health, and cardiothoracic surgeon, Orlando Health Heart Institute. “Our commitment to quality and transparency gives patients the confidence they need when they choose our program, which is in the top ten percent in the nations as judged by peers for avoiding complications and mortality, and proper medication administration.”
The Heart Institute’s success in cardiac surgery performance is the result of expertise, experience, collaboration, and a voluntary, self-run team quality council.The council — comprised of nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, infection control specialists, risk managers, administrators, doctors and other team members — works diligently on various quality improvement initiatives and care reviews for each of our processes including pre-surgical preparation, surgical management, avoidance of complications and death and post-surgical medical management.
“We have complete commitment from the whole team, not just doctors.” said Dr. Bott. “We care about outcomes and monitor them continuously. We repeatedly examine results every step of the way from a patient’s admission to 30 days after discharge for areas we can improve.”
The Overall 3 Star Rating for bypass surgery represents four areas of quality outcomes:1. Absence of Mortality (Deaths)2. Absence of Morbidity (Complications)3. Use of Internal Mammary Arteries (Arteries located in the chest and commonly used in bypass surgery because they have been shown to have the best long-term results.)4. Medications (Patients are discharged with proper medications and instructions.)
The cardiac database was established in 1989 as an initiative for quality improvement and patient safety among cardiothoracic surgeons. The Adult Cardiac Surgery Database, now contains more than 7 million surgical records, represents an estimated 90 percent of all adult cardiac surgery centers across the United States.
The thoracic surgery program at UF-Health Cancer Center - Orlando Health has participated in The Society for Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Database since 2007.
"This award reflects the team effort in our institution and our commitment to quality and minimally invasive surgery. By carefully optimizing our patient care and surgical approach we can ensure the safest recovery possible is these complex surgeries,” said Luis Herrera, MD, thoracic surgeon UF Health Cancer Center - Orlando Health. “At UF Health Cancer Center - Orlando Health we are committed to continuing to provide exceptional quality oncology care for our patients. To once again receive this 3 star quality rating for lobectomy is a reflection of our dedication to a multi-disciplinary approach to treat lung cancer and provide the best outcomes of our patients.”
The Overall 3 Star Rating for lobectomy represents two areas of quality outcomes:1. Absence of Mortality (Deaths)2. Absence of Major Complication###
About Orlando Health
Orlando Health is a $2.3 billion not-for-profit health care organization and a community-based network of physician practices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers throughout Central Florida. The organization includes Orlando Health Physician Group and Physician Associates, two of the largest multi-specialty practices in Central Florida, ownership in an outpatient surgery center, and eight wholly-owned or affiliated hospitals. An Orlando Health subsidiary holds a 51 percent interest in an entity operating five outpatient imaging centers.
Orlando Health is home to the area’s only Level One Trauma Centers for adults and pediatrics and is a statutory teaching hospital system that offers both specialty and community hospitals. They are: Orlando Regional Medical Center; Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; South Seminole Hospital; Health Central Hospital, the Arnold Palmer Medical Center, which consists of Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies; the UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health, South Lake Hospital (50 percent affiliation); and St. Cloud Regional Medical Center (20 percent affiliation). Areas of clinical excellence are heart and vascular, cancer care, neurosciences, surgery, pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatology, and women’s health.
More than 2,000 physicians have privileges at Orlando Health, which is also one of the area’s largest employers with more than 15,000 employees who support our philosophy of providing high quality care and service that revolves around patients’ needs. We prove this everyday with over 100,000 inpatient admissions and nearly 900,000 outpatient visits each year. In all, Orlando Health serves 1.8 million Central Florida residents and more than 4,500 international patients annually. Additionally, Orlando Health provides nearly $235 million in support of community health needs. More information can be found at www.orlandohealth.com.
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