It was an afternoon to celebrate Trinity Health's heart program Tuesday at the Trinity Hospital Skywalk crossing Broadway as the health center was listed among America's Top 50 cardiovascular hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, a leading authority on clinical quality. Doctors, nurses, administration and staff all gathered to share in the celebration with a brief press conference and heart-healthy refreshments.
Trinity Health was the only North Dakota hospital to make the list and one of only 15 community hospitals recognized nationwide.
Truven Health examined the performance of more than 1,000 hospitals when compiling the Top 50 list. They analyzed outcomes of patients with heart failure and heart attack, and those who received coronary bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions like angioplasty.
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Jill Hambek/MDN • Randy Schwan speaks as Dr. Christopher Phillips, board certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon and medical director of Trinity’s Heart and Lung Center, looks on at a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Trinity Hospital Skywalk. Nurses from the Heart and Lung Center stand nearby. Trinity Health was named one of America’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals.
Randy Schwan, vice-president for Trinity Health, said it takes the dedication and caring of the staff to receive an honor like this. Key points included in the abstract that summarized the Top 50 winners contained items such as having lower complications-index than other hospitals, a smaller percentage of patients dying of any cause within 30 days after admission, and lower readmission rates.
"This is quite a prestigious award and sets an example. We do not like to follow, we like to lead," said Dr. Christopher Phillips, board certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon and medical director of Trinity's Heart and Lung Center. "Trinity is always trying reinvent healthcare and this award symbolizes that."
The public was encouraged to enjoy the heart-healthy refreshments after the press conference.