OAKLAND, Calif. –Alta Bates Summit Medical Center earned a distinguished three-star rating, the highest possible, from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for excellence in mitral valve replacement and repair (MVRR) surgery. Of the approximately 130 participating hospitals in California, Alta Bates Summit, part of the Sutter Health not-for-profit network of care, is one of only four hospitals in the state to earn this three-star rating for MVRR surgery.
Mitral valve replacement and mitral valve repair surgeries are performed to treat diseases of the mitral valve — the valve located between the left heart chambers.
“The three-star rating is widely regarded as the gold standard by which cardiac surgery programs are evaluated and it’s the highest honor achievable,” says Junaid Khan, MD, director of Cardiovascular Services for Alta Bates Summit. “We take great pride in the high-quality care we provide that has resulted in long-term positive results. This recognition validates our comprehensive heart program’s excellence.”
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.
Alta Bates Summit also earned a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in 2019 for patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures—the most commonly performed open-heart surgery.
“Alta Bates Summit provides exceptional care for our valvular heart disease patients under the leadership of Dr. Russell Stanten and Dr. Khan,” says Mitul Kadakia, MD, FACC director, Structural Heart and Valve Disease, Alta Bates Summit. “It is a privilege to be a part of a cardiac program which results in these kind of incredible outcomes for our patients. The 3-Star STS rating for CABG and Mitral surgery is great asset for our patients.”
Dr. Khan praised the hospital’s physicians, staff members and departments who were instrumental in making this award possible.
“None of these amazing results would have been possible without our entire team including the expertise of our surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, case management and rehabilitation services,” adds Dr. Khan.
Michael W. Tsang, M.D. , FACC, director of the Echocardiography Laboratory at Alta Bates Summit says, “While earning a 3 star rating in the recent public report is a great achievement for the medical center and cardiac surgery program, it is the constant and consistent feedback from my patients about their own wonderful and positive surgical experiences that make Alta Bates Summit one of the best mitral valve surgery programs in the state. Under Dr. Khan’s leadership, I have seen steady and significant strides made in our ability to deliver high quality care and to improve patient satisfaction.”
Alta Bates Summit’s three-star rating also drew praise from cardiovascular leaders at other East Bay hospitals.
“The three star rating for CABG and Mitral valve surgery by the nationally recognized Society of Thoracic Surgeons is well earned,” said Marina Tirlesskaya, MD, FACC, Chief of Cardiology, Alameda Health System. “Dr. Khan and his team have been providing outstanding care for our patients with consistently excellent results and unmatched compassion for our community and underserved patient population, supporting our mission at Alameda Health System of caring, healing, teaching and serving all.”
“As a community hospital with no onsite cardiac surgery program, our patients are fortunate to have the ABSMC cardiac surgical team provide superlative, prompt and outstanding care to our patients requiring emergent/urgent bypass surgery and mitral valve repair at Alta Bates Summit,” said Aditya Jain, MD, FACC, Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, St. Rose Hospital. “Their patient centric team approach has enhanced patient survival and improved overall well-being in the postoperative period.
