Consumer Reports now rates Thoracic Surgery Groups

[nate_c]

Hi, All. I thought some of you might be interested in this article. Apparently, Consumer Reports is now publishing ratings of cardiothoracic surgery groups for key regions in the US. Scores are based on "complication and survival rates, whether the groups used the best surgical technique and whether patients were being sent home with certain medicines that research has shown to be beneficial after this type of surgery." The ratings are based on data collected by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Here's a link to the article I stumbled across: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/health/08heart.html

Best,
Nate

 

[Luana]

Well, that's nice for the bypass people. Some CTs do a lot of bypass surgery and not much valve surgery.

 

[nngbwh]

interesting. thanks for sharing.

 

[Lily]

Thanks for posting, Nate; it's very interesting

And here's an ongoing issue, when consulting with any surgeon or group or hospital: Quote: "Such incomplete information can be misleading. For example, he said, if a surgical group performs bypass surgery mostly on low-risk patients, its statistics may look great. Another group may perform just as well or better, but have worse outcomes because it accepts sicker patients. But a high-risk patient needing surgery might see the seemingly better results from the first group and choose it."

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Thanks for posting, Nate; it's very interesting

And here's an ongoing issue, when consulting with any surgeon or group or hospital: Quote: "Such incomplete information can be misleading. For example, he said, if a surgical group performs bypass surgery mostly on low-risk patients, its statistics may look great. Another group may perform just as well or better, but have worse outcomes because it accepts sicker patients. But a high-risk patient needing surgery might see the seemingly better results from the first group and choose it."

I recall reading a similar story about a Surgeon in NY who took on a lot of High Risk Patients.
After NY required publicizing results, this Surgeon's 'numbers' were lower than those surgeons who only took the healthiest patients.

As I remember the story, the next year that surgeon started referring the higher risk patients Out of State and his numbers returned to higher levels.

I'm thinking I read that on VR but not sure.

BTW, if I recall correctly, Valve (and other 'complex') Heart Patients represent about 10% of all Heart Patients seen by Cardiologists. Someone on VR pointed out that the percentage of Valve (and other complex) Heart Surgeries is probably on the order of 20% since many CAD patients can be treated medically and the only real 'cure' for a Bad Valve is to replace it.

'AL C'

 

[skrob49]

I recall reading a similar story about a Surgeon in NY who took on a lot of High Risk Patients.
After NY required publicing results, this Surgeon's 'numbers' were lower than those surgeons who only took the healthiest patients.

As I remember the story, the next year that surgeon started referring the higher risk patients Out of State and his numbers returned to higher levels.

I'm thinking I read that on VR but not sure.

BTW, if I recall correctly, Valve (and other 'complex') Heart Patients represent about 10% of all Heart Patients seen by Cardiologists. Someone on VR pointed out that the percentage of Valve (and other complex) Heart Surgeries is probably on the order of 20% since many CAD patients can be treated medically and the only real 'cure' for a Bad Valve is to replace it.

'AL C'

Such disclosures and risks of lawsuits keep professionals on their toes, but may also be counterproductive. Such info should be subject to peer review and restricted to fellow professionals like cardiologists who are tasked with referral of patients ????

 

[Cherries4life]

Hi, All. I thought some of you might be interested in this article. Apparently, Consumer Reports is now publishing ratings of cardiothoracic surgery groups for key regions in the US. Scores are based on "complication and survival rates, whether the groups used the best surgical technique and whether patients were being sent home with certain medicines that research has shown to be beneficial after this type of surgery." The ratings are based on data collected by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Here's a link to the article I stumbled across: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/health/08heart.html

Best,
Nate

I was extremely happy to see that my surgeons office made the list. After going through it and seeing their team work first hand, they deserve their spot in one of the top 50 in my eyes!