Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital’s cardiac program has been recognized by HealthGrades^® as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention™ for consistently good outcomes for patients undergoing cath lab and cardiology procedures.

"A recognition like this and the numerous others bestowed upon the hospital over the past few years does not 'just happen,’” said Wanda Holderman, chief executive officer of Fresno Heart & Surgical. “It is rather because of the highly skilled, credentialed, and capable staff and physicians working closely to follow evidenced based practice and proven methods. The hospital recognizes these esteemed designations of the HealthGrades’ rating agency as worthy to strive for. The hospital leadership is committed to devoting the resources necessary to further excel."

The hospital was given the award based on findings in the American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, which evaluated 40 million Medicare hospitalization records for services performed from 2009 through 2011 at approximately 4,500 short-term, acute care hospitals nationwide. HealthGrades looked at 30 of the most common conditions and procedures, including stenting of coronary arteries, balloon angioplasty and other cath lab procedures.

HealthGrades is one of the places many consumers turn to make choices about hospitals. According to the report to the nation, patients being treated in hospitals receiving 5-star ratings have, on average, a 61% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals receiving a 1-star rating. And patients were 42% less likely to experience an in-hospital complication in hospitals receiving 5-star ratings versus all other hospitals.

This is the latest in a string of recognitions for Fresno Heart & Surgical, which has earned 5-star (top) ratings from HealthGrades for the past five years in a row for carotid surgery. It has also been the recipient of HealthGrades Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award™ for four years in a row and has ranked among the top 5% in the nation for weight-loss surgery for the past three years.

The hospital gets consistently rave reviews from patients for communication, cleanliness, comfort and responsiveness of caregivers and has received HealthGrades’ Outstanding Patient Experience Award for the past five years in a row.

You can find the full HealthGrades report and 2013 performance outcomes at www.healthgrades.com.

Erin Kennedy reported this story. She can be reached at MedWatchToday@CommunityMedical.org.