Consumer Reports lists CentraCare Health – St. Cloud Hospital among best in nation for heart surgery

Consumer Reports released data today on the top hospitals for heart surgery in the United States. The ratings reflect how well hospitals performed on open heart surgery, including heart bypass and aortic valve replacement. CentraCare Health – St. Cloud Hospital earned “better than expected” ratings, the highest given, in both areas and is amongst an elite group, being the only hospital in Minnesota and one of only 17 hospitals nationwide to earn top scores in both categories.

Consumer Reports compiled the quality data for heart surgery from nearly 500 hospitals in partnership with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), considered to be the most authoritative source on cardiac surgery. STS collects data directly from hospitals on several key measures, including survival and complication rates.

“Our success is driven by our expert physicians. They work collaboratively and carefully with other team members and patients to ensure the right procedure is performed at the right time,” said Phil Martin, director of the CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center at St. Cloud Hospital. “We put patients first in all we do.”

CentraCare Health – St. Cloud Hospital has earned a top rating each of the five times Consumer Reports has reviewed heart surgery since 2010. Because of this consistent performance, Consumer Reports has referred to the program in St. Cloud as an “all-star heart surgery group."

Consumer Reports’ special Heart Healthy Report appears in its May issue and online at CR.org.

About the CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center at St. Cloud Hospital

Since 1988, thousands of people in Minnesota have benefited from the heart surgery program at CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center. Our three heart surgeons perform more than 750 heart-related surgeries each year. CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center is a comprehensive heart center dedicated to the prevention, discovery and management of heart disease. It offers a full range of heart services and is one of the few sites in Minnesota with a heart research program.

Learn more about the CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center.