St. Francis Receives Top Honors from Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Catholic Health’s St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center® earned prestigious three-star overall ratings in several cardiac surgical categories from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). Three stars for overall quality is the highest rating awarded.

St. Francis received three stars for aortic valve replacement (AVR), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), mitral valve repair and replacement (MVRR), AVR plus CABG and MVRR plus CABG. The hospital also received three stars for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) from STS and the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

Historically, only 4%–8% of participants receive a three-star rating for AVR, about 20% of participants receive a three-star rating for CABG and only 4%–7% of participants receive a three-star rating for AVR plus CABG, according to STS. These ratings are part of the organization’s public reporting initiative that began in 2010 and are voluntary. St. Francis’s participation highlights the hospital’s continued dedication to transparency and to offering patients the best cardiac care in the New York Metropolitan area. 

“These top ratings from STS affirm St. Francis Hospital’s expertise in cardiac care,” said St. Francis President Charles L. Lucore, MD, MBA. “Our dedicated team of board-certified surgeons are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality care using the latest treatments available.”

Cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at the John Brancaccio Heart Valve Center at St. Francis are experts in TAVR procedures that offer patients the latest advances in catheter-based, minimally invasive surgery. Led by Co-Directors Newell Robinson, MD, and George Petrossian, MD, St. Francis performs more TAVR procedures than any other hospital on Long Island.

St. Francis is also a leader in conventional open-heart surgeries and off-pump coronary bypass procedures. The hospital’s board-certified cardiac surgeons are innovators and early adopters of advanced technologies and treatments to give patients improved outcomes and faster recoveries.

“These three-star STS ratings assure patients that our team and outcomes are exceptional. We have the expertise to provide solutions specific to their conditions,” said Dr. Robinson.

Dr. Petrossian added, “I’m proud to work with an elite team of physicians who played a major role in St. Francis earning three-star ratings. This award demonstrates that we offer world-class treatment that allows our patients to return home safely.”

The STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Report analyzed data from participants over a three-year period, from July 2018 to June 2021, the most recent reporting data period available. The ratings are calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures.

The high marks from STS are the latest in a long line of honors received by St. Francis for its cardiac care. U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Francis a top hospital for cardiology & heart surgery. Additionally, the hospital was ranked as high performing in aortic valve surgery, heart attack, heart bypass surgery, heart failure and TAVR.

Catholic Health continues to increase access to the quality care provided by St. Francis cardiologists through the expansion of the St. Francis Heart Center across Long Island. Current locations include Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre and St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown.

More information about the heart health services offered by Catholic Health may be obtained by visiting chsli.org. To find a cardiologist near you, please call (866) MY-LI-DOC.