Phoenix Children's Hospital Earns Top Rating From The Society of Thoracic Surgeons' Congenital Heart Surgery Database

PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Children's Hospital, a "Best Children's Hospital" as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, has earned the top rating of three stars from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) based on congenital cardiothoracic surgery outcomes data for the period from July 2013 through June 2017. STS is an organization that works to ensure the best possible outcomes following congenital heart surgery. The Cardiothoracic Surgery team at Phoenix Children's is one of just 11 programs in North America to earn this ranking out of 118 participating programs for the fourth consecutive year. This signifies Phoenix Children's congenital cardiothoracic surgery outcomes are among the best in the U.S.

"Our patients' health and outcomes speak for themselves in many ways, though receiving a three-star rating demonstrates our high level of cardiothoracic surgical care," said Daniel A. Velez, MD, Division Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Phoenix Children's Hospital. "We're proud of this recognition. It is a testament to the staff and resources we have at Phoenix Children's, and our dedication to the families who come to us for their son or daughter's heart surgery."

STS compared data from 118 participating programs. Star ratings are based on the overall risk-adjusted observed-to-expected operative morality ratio for all patients undergoing pediatric and/or congenital cardiac surgery. The system is constructed on overall risk-adjusted operative mortality rates: one star for programs with mortality rates statistically higher than expected, two stars for average mortality, and three stars for lower-than-average mortality rates. More details are available here.

The three-star designation comes shortly following U.S. News & World Report's 2017-18 "Best Children's Hospital" list, which ranked Phoenix Children's #18 in the nation in Cardiology and Heart Surgery out of more than 150 pediatric programs surveyed. This was the seventh year in a row Phoenix Children's ranked as a Best Children's Hospital, and it remains the only Arizona hospital with this designation.

About Phoenix Children's Hospital
Phoenix Children's Hospital is Arizona's only children's hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals. Phoenix Children's provides world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children's hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children's provides care across more than 75 pediatric specialties. The Hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information about the hospital, visit http://www.phoenixchildrens.org.

SOURCE Phoenix Children's Hospital