Awards and Distinctions

To ensure that we’re providing excellent cardiovascular care, we measure our success in both numbers of surgeries and patient outcomes. Our cardiovascular services include three subspecialties — cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery. Our most recent outcomes report can show you the breadth of our experience and expertise as a whole and within each subspecialty.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) has developed a comprehensive rating system that allows for comparisons regarding the quality of cardiac surgery among participating hospitals across the country. In the current analysis of national data covering the period from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2018, St. Joseph Medical Center received the 3-Star rating for both isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) and for mitral valve replacement and repair (MVRR) surgery. A 3-Star STS rating denotes the highest category of quality and places St. Joseph among the elite for both MVRR and AVR surgery across participating hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Only four to eight percent of participants receive the three-star rating for AVR and approximately 10 percent for three-star MVRR.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Three-Star Composite Quality Ratings

Isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR): July 2015-June 2018
St. Joseph Medical Center

Isolated mitral valve replacement and repair (MVRR): July 2015-June 2018
St. Joseph Medical Center

Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR): July 2013–June 2016
St. Joseph Medical Center

AVR + Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG): July 2013–June 2016
St. Joseph Medical Center

CABG: July 2013–June 2014
St. Joseph Medical Center

AVR: January 2012–December 2014
St. Joseph Medical Center

AVR + CABG: July 2013–June 2016
Harrison Medical Center

AVR: July 2012–June 2015
Harrison Medical Center

AVR + CABG: July 2012–June 2015
Harrison Medical Center

AVR: January 2012–December 2014
Harrison Medical Center

Franciscan Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates, Tacoma
Cardiac surgery:
Craig Hampton, MD, FACS
Susan Hecker, MD, MPH
John Luber, MD, FACS

Thoracic surgery:
Baiya Krishnadasan, MD, FACS
Jason Tcheng, MD

Harrison HealthPartners, Bremerton
Cardiothoracic surgery:
Christopher King, MD, FACS

The Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence (ACE) accreditation means a facility meets the highest standards for cardiac care, only performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures when appropriate and meeting nationally accepted standards for post-procedure care.

Two CHI Franciscan Health hospitals were accredited for cardiac catheterization and PCI: St. Francis Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center. These CHI Franciscan hospitals were the first in Washington state to receive this recognition.

When it comes to PCI, the national goal for patient presentation to the hospital (when you get here) to intervention (opening of the blocked artery) is 90 minutes. CHI Franciscan has a system goal of less than 60 minutes and the average of all CHI Franciscan hospitals is below this 60-minute goal. This means that our patients are consistently receiving fast, appropriate care, which significantly improves their chances for a good outcome.

CHI Franciscan Health was the first in the Northwest to be an Accredited System for Heart Failure by the Battelle Healthcare Colloquium. This award is important because it recognizes our dedication to comprehensive, patient-centered heart care, doctor and patient education and excellent outcomes throughout South Puget Sound.

The Healthcare Colloquium is a hospital membership organization owned by Battelle, whose representatives make their announcement following a week-long, extensive, all-sites visit. In 2014, St. Joseph Medical Center earned recognition as an Accredited Heart Failure Institute.

Our accredited Heart Failure Centers include:

• St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw
• St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way
• St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood
• St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor
• Harrison Medical Center, Bremerton
• Highline Medical Center, Burien

Learn more about heart failure care at CHI Franciscan Health

St. Joseph Medical Center bears the Blue Distinction® Center for Cardiac Care designation from Premera Blue Cross. Blue Distinction Centers are hospitals shown to deliver quality specialty care based on objective, transparent measures for patient safety and health outcomes. To receive this designation, a hospital must demonstrate:

• Success in meeting both general quality and safety criteria (such as preventing hospital-acquired infections)
• Cardiac-specific quality measures of cardiac surgical and nonsurgical procedures (such as cardiac stent placement)

Get With The Guidelines Stroke is a program that helps hospitals follow the most recent guidelines for treatment set by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Our commitment and success sets a higher standard, ensuring you receive exceptional care right here in your own community.

• 2016 Gold Performance Achievement Award-Harrison Medical Center
• 2015 Platinum Performance Achievement Award-St. Joseph Medical Center
• 2014 Silver Performance Achievement Award-St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital, St. Anthony Hospital

Beacon Award for Excellence

Harrison Medical Center’s ICU was honored as a recipient of the silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence. This national, three-year designation from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) reflects the exceptional level of care and the healthy work environment in the ICU. Out of 6,000 ICUs in the United States, 197 have received Beacon designations. Only eight Beacon Awards have been bestowed to units in Washington.

Not only does this award signify great service, but it means the work environment for our nursing staff is recognized as supportive and positive. That translates to better care for you.