Smidt Heart Institute’s Cardiac Surgery Earns Three-Star Quality Rating
Society of Thoracic Surgeons Rates Cedars-Sinai Heart Surgery Patient Outcomes Among Nation’s Best
The Department of Cardiac Surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai has earned a prestigious rating achieved by the top heart surgery programs in the U.S.
The three-star quality rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons is the organization’s highest rating and recognizes Cedars-Sinai’s cardiac surgery team for its outstanding patient care and low rates of surgical and post-surgical complications.
“Our team has long held the highest recognitions for outcomes in coronary bypass, heart valve and transplant surgery,” said Joanna Chikwe, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Cedars-Sinai and the Irina and George Schaeffer Distinguished Chair in Cardiac Surgery. “This new rating is testament to our program’s quality and safety record across the entire spectrum of cardiac surgery.”
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons established a database in 1989 to track quality and patient safety. The database includes information voluntarily reported by most hospitals that perform heart surgery in the U.S.
The three-star rating for Cedars-Sinai is based on 1,567 adult cardiac surgery procedures performed between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2024. These include coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair and replacement, and combinations of these procedures. The metrics used to create the score apply to any heart surgery done at Cedars-Sinai during that time period, including patients who had multiple surgeries such as a coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve repair.
“The growth of the cardiac surgery team is truly remarkable,” said Shlomo Melmed, MB, ChB, executive vice president of Medicine and Health Sciences and dean of the Medical Faculty. “The team melds cutting-edge research and surgical skill to ensure the finest patient care outcomes.”
The Smidt Heart Institute’s cardiology, heart and vascular surgery programs are rated in the top 10 in the U.S. and #1 in California by U.S. News & World Report.
Read more from the Cedars-Sinai Blog: After Heart Surgery, More to Love