UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. Earns National Distinction for Excellence in Adult Cardiac Surgery Outcomes

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HARRISBURG, PA. (June 23, 2025) – The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. has been awarded the highest possible rating of three stars by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in four out of six total categories for patient care and outcomes, including:

 

  • Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
  • Combined Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR+CABG)
  • Isolated Mitral Valve Replacement/Repair (MVRR)
  • Multi-procedural composite measures, which involves a combination of all cardiac procedures, including valves and coronary bypass surgeries

 

The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa. among the elite for adult cardiac surgery in the United States and Canada. UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pa has maintained a 3-star STS rating in various categories for the last decade.

 

"We're extremely proud of the team for achieving this recognition, which places us among the elite for adult cardiac surgery in North America," said Erik Toth, vice president of cardiovascular services for UPMC in Central Pa. “The STS three-star ratings are among the most prestigious quality indicators for hospitals providing open heart surgery. Our continued focus is to deliver exceptional patient care and achieve outstanding patient outcomes."

 

Historically, approximately 4% to 7% of participants receive the three-star rating for AVR+CABG surgery and 20% of participants receive the three-star rating for isolated CABG surgery. The latest analysis of data covers the calendar years 2022 through 2024.

 

Founded in 1989, the STS National Database is the world’s premier clinical registry for cardiac surgery and contains data from more than 1,000 cardiac surgery institutions that represent approximately six million records. Participation in the STS registry represents UPMC’s commitment to improving the care provided to heart surgery patients. 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 in the United States and Canada.

Pioneers in cardiovascular health since 1956, doctors at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in central Pennsylvania were the first in the region to perform open heart surgery. UPMC’s surgeons are experts at providing exceptional care through both vascular, interventional and endovascular techniques.

 

For more information or to schedule an appointment at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, visit UPMC.com/CentralPaHeart.

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