The Heart Center at Children’s Health receives highest rating from Society of Thoracic Surgeons

DALLAS – The Heart Center at Children’s Health, the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, has been recognized as one of the top heart centers in the nation by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), receiving the highest possible rating of three stars in the most recent STS National Report.

Children’s Health is one of only six pediatric heart centers nationwide to receive the three-star rating, which designates a lower-than-expected rate of mortality respective to operative mortality, making it among the top five percent nationally and the only center in Texas to receive the highest designation of excellence awarded by the STS.

One hundred sixteen facilities voluntarily submitted data over the past four years to the STS for nationwide comparison of risk-adjusted pediatric operative mortality. Each heart center is rated with either a one-, two- or three-star ranking based on outcomes. Only six of the 116 facilities were rated with a three-star rating, the highest rating by STS. The database is the largest of its kind in North America, with data submitted from more than 95 percent of hospitals in the United States that perform heart surgery.

“Our team at the Heart Center at Children’s Health is thrilled to receive the distinguished three-star rating from STS, which means we are among the best pediatric heart centers in nation with significantly lower-than-expected operative mortality rates across all risk profiles,” said Joseph Forbess, M.D., division director of cardiothoracic surgery, and co-director of The Heart Center at Children’s Health and professor of cardiothoracic surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

The Heart Center at Children’s Health performs an average of more than 500 heart surgeries each year, offering a comprehensive program of specialized care for children with congenital and acquired heart diseases. A multidisciplinary group of specialists work together to meet the full range of pediatric cardiac needs, including prenatal consultation, non-invasive diagnostic imaging, interventional catheterization, electrophysiology (including catheter ablation and device therapy), cholesterol management and cardiothoracic surgery (including heart transplantation).

“We are extremely proud to be among only six centers to receive the highest STS rating nationwide,” said Christopher J. Durovich, president and chief executive officer of Children’s Health. “The Heart Center team is committed to staying on the cutting edge through innovation and research with one goal in mind—to make life better for children with heart disease.”

The Heart Center's team of professionals includes cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, cardiac intensivists, neonatologists and cardiac anesthesiologists. In addition to research, a vital component of the program at the Heart Center is to provide detailed cardiac education and support services for patients and their families.

For more information about the Heart Center at Children’s Health, please visit www.childrens.com/heart or call (214) 456-2333.

About Children’s Health℠

Children’s Health℠ is one of the nation’s leading pediatric health care systems, providing a full spectrum of health care services for children in Dallas, North Texas and surrounding regions. Children’s Health includes the flagship hospital Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Children’s Medical Center Plano and almost 40 other locations, which include multiple specialty centers, Children’s Health Pediatric Group primary care practices, home health and a pediatric research institute. For more information, please visit www.childrens.com.