Hartford HealthCare Earns Elite National Distinction for Cardiac Surgery

HARTFORD – Hartford Hospital has once again earned Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) highest possible ratings for adult cardiac surgery, placing the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute among the top cardiac surgery centers in the nation—and one of only a handful of healthcare systems nationwide to achieve perfect scores across all categories.

Hartford Hospital received a perfect STS score—18 out of 18—in the most recent reporting period, marking its fourth consecutive top performance in the world’s most respected cardiac surgery outcomes registry. These results reaffirm Hartford Hospital position at the very top of cardiac surgery quality and outcomes nationally.

In addition, and for the first time, St. Vincent’s Medical Center, the other cardiac surgery center in the system, earned a three-star STS rating—a major milestone underscoring the health system’s sustained investment in surgical excellence, clinical consistency, and team-based care across its network.

Twice each year, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons evaluates more than 1,000 cardiac surgery programs nationwide, assigning one- to three-star ratings based on patient outcomes in adult cardiac surgery. The STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database is widely recognized as the gold standard for measuring cardiac surgical quality and performance.

Hartford Hospital earned the STS highest three-star rating for patient care and outcomes across all evaluated categories:

• Aortic valve replacement (AVR)
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
• Mitral valve repair or replacement (MVRR)
• Combined MVRR and CABG
• Combined AVR and CABG
• Multiprocedural overall

“These results reflect far more than technical excellence—they represent a culture of precision, accountability, and deep collaboration,” said Sabet Hashim, MD, chairman of cardiac surgery and co-physician-in-chief of the Hartford HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute. “It is remarkable to see the state of Connecticut, with a population of 3.6 million, lead the nation in cardiac surgery at Hartford Hospital. The three-star performance achieved by both Hartford Hospital and St. Vincent’s Medical Center reflects the excellence of the entire Hartford HealthCare system. It is the expression of our vision to deliver a tailored, patient-centered approach—one patient at a time.”

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 7,300 surgeons, researchers, and allied health professionals worldwide, dedicated to improving outcomes for patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery through education, research, and quality measurement.