Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Cardiac Surgery program earns three-star ratings from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The Cardiac Surgery program at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has earned a distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in three categories. The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places Milton S. Hershey Medical Center among the nation’s top-performing heart surgery centers.
The program earned three-star ratings for:
- Isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
- Isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery
- Multi-procedural composite measures, which involves a combination of all cardiac procedures, including valves and coronary bypass surgeries.
The STS star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs across the United States and Canada. The star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures performed by an STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participant.
According to STS data, approximately 4 to 8 percent of participants receive a three-star rating for isolated AVR surgery and approximately 20 percent of hospital participants receive a three-rating for isolated CABG surgery. The latest analysis of data covers the calendar years 2022 through 2024.
“This recognition is a direct reflection of the outstanding talent, dedication and teamwork demonstrated by our cardiac surgeons and the entire multidisciplinary care team, from the operating room to the Heart and Vascular Intensive Care Unit and beyond,” said Dr. Behzad Soleimani, director of Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute, chair of the Department of Surgery, and professor of surgery at Penn State College of Medicine. “It underscores our standing as a national leader in cardiovascular care and commitment to ensuring exceptional patient outcomes.”
Founded in 1989, the STS National Database aims to improve care and safety for patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. It includes nearly 6.9 million surgical records from over 3,800 surgeons and anesthesiologists, representing more than 90% of U.S. hospitals that perform heart surgeries. Public reporting through STS allows hospitals to voluntarily share their ratings and performance data, further advancing transparency and quality improvement efforts.
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