Orlando Health earns highest quality rating for heart care and cancer care for the second time

ORLANDO, Fla. (February 4, 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 & Vascular 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

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About Orlando Health

Orlando Health is a $3.4 billion not-for-profit healthcare organization with more than 2,400 beds serving Central Florida and beyond. Consisting of eight wholly-owned or affiliated hospitals and rehabilitation centers, Orlando Health has 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 Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC); Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children; Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies; Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center; Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital; Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital; Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital; Orlando Health South Lake Hospital; affiliate, St. Cloud Regional Medical Center.

The organization includes Orlando Health Medical Group and Orlando Health Physician Associates, two of the region’s largest multi-specialty practices; a renowned cancer center – Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center (with free-standing sites in downtown Orlando, the Dr. Phillips community in southwest Orlando, Lake Mary, Ocoee and Clermont); four outpatient surgery centers; 10 wholly-owned, affiliated or partnership urgent care centers; and a majority interest in an entity operating five outpatient imaging centers.

More than 2,900 physicians have privileges across the Orlando Health system, which is also one of the area’s largest employers with more than 20,000 employees who support our philosophy of providing high-quality care and service that revolves around patients’ needs. Orlando Health proves this everyday with more than 112,000 inpatient admissions, more than 2.4 million outpatient visits and more than 10,000 international patients each year. Additionally, Orlando Health provides more than $450 million in total value to the community in the form of charity care, community benefit programs and services, community building activities and more.

Media Contacts:

Sabrina Childress
Media Relations & Public Affairs Manager
Orlando Regional Medical Center
321.841.8748
[email protected]

Katie Dagenais, M.A.
Media Relations & Public Affairs Manager
UF Health Cancer Center - Orlando Health
407.242.0305
[email protected]