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Sentara Heart Hospital Facts
All Heart Programs are not Created Equal: Know the Facts Before you need Surgery.
For heart surgery, results mean everything. If you need a procedure, you want to choose a program with a proven track record of success. At Sentara Heart Hospital, on the campus of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, the facts speak volumes. Our team distinguishes itself day after day, year after year, with a stellar performance that yields the one measure of quality that matters most – an excellent result.
 How long has the hospital performed the procedure you need?
In 1967, Sentara Heart Hospital became the region’s first to perform life-saving open heart surgery.
How low is their heart interventional procedure mortality?
For cardiac interventions such as angioplasty and stent implants, the published national average is 1.05%. For the 1,961 such procedures performed in 2006, Sentara was far below this quality measure, ranking Sentara Heart Hospital among the nation’s best for positive outcomes.
Read the 2007 Cardiac Outcomes Report (PDF file).
How low is their heart surgery patient mortality?
Sentara’s patient mortality for open heart surgery is considerably lower than the published national average. When measuring mortality, the lower the number, the better.
Read the 2007 Cardiac Outcomes Report (PDF file).
Are there subspecialists skilled in working with heart surgery patients?
Skilled subspecialists such as pulmonary critical care specialists, nephrologists, and neurosurgeons work closely when needed with our heart surgery patients before and after surgery. Their knowledge helps assure positive outcomes for patients with other complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or respiratory ailments.
Do they perform a high volume of surgeries?
In 2006, we performed more than 1,200 open heart procedures. Studies have shown that hospitals performing a certain procedure more frequently often get better results.
Do they offer the latest technology and procedures?
Sentara was the first in the region to use the 64-Slice CT, Cardiac MRI and a real-time imaging system for heart bypass surgery called SPY®. We also introduced drug-eluting stents, off-pump coronary artery bypass, and other minimally invasive techniques.
Do they have anesthesiologists who specialize exclusively in cardiac surgery cases?
There are specially trained cardiac anesthesiologists dedicated to the heart surgery patients at Sentara Heart Hospital. Cardiac anesthesiologists have specialized skills in open heart surgery and are the experts of choice in anesthesia for cardiac surgery procedures.
What is their cardiac surgeons’ expertise?
Patients benefit from outstanding cardiac surgeons recognized nationally for their skill and expertise.
Additional Information
For a free copy of our How To Choose A Quality Heart Program fact sheet , please call 1-800-SENTARA or download a PDF. You can also visit our website to learn more about our heart program.
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