Newsroom

NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center has, for nearly eight years in a row, shown a significantly lower risk-adjusted mortality rate compared to all other New York State (NYS) programs, according to the Pediatric Congenital Cardiac Surgery in NYS 2010-2013 Report, which was released earlier this autumn.

“We were very pleased with these great results, which are a testament not only to the fact that heart surgery being performed on children at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia is of the highest quality, but also to the entire team of doctors and nurses who comprise the pediatric heart team,” said Dr. Emile Bacha, chief of the Division of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and director of congenital and pediatric cardiac surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.

This is the fourth report of risk-adjusted outcomes for pediatric cardiac surgery in NYS. The report compiles outcomes for pediatric patients (less than 18 years old) who have surgery to correct congenital heart defects. New York is the only state in the country known to evaluate and release this kind of information for pediatric cardiac surgery.

The data includes hospital-specific mortality rates adjusted to account for differences in patient severity of illness as well as the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality for these procedures. NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia had the highest number of cases – a total of 1,558 – with a very low risk adjusted mortality rate of 2.26. These analyses are just one component of continued efforts to provide comprehensive monitoring and assessment information for both patients and providers.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia has long paved the way for advancements in pediatric cardiology care. The first successful pediatric heart transplant was achieved by Columbia doctors in 1984, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia doctors used 3D printing to help perform surgery on a newborn in 2014, and for 10 years running, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has ranked in more pediatric specialties – including cardiology – than any other New York metro area hospital in U.S. News & World Report’s list of “Best Children’s Hospitals.”

To view the full report, click here (PDF).