Top national ranking: Baptist Health Paducah excels in open heart surgery care
PADUCAH, KY (Dec. 16, 2024) –Baptist Health Paducah has been ranked sixth in the nation for the lowest rates of unplanned readmission by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) after having undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), also known as open heart surgery.
“We have strived to be a Society of Thoracic Surgery 3-Star coronary artery bypass program; the fact we have the lowest unplanned readmission rates in our community and are ranked in the top ten nationally is a reflection of our team’s hard work and dedication,” said Craig Beavers, Vice President of Operations at Baptist Health Paducah. “We are proud of this honor and encourage the community to use this information when choosing their care providers.”
Open heart surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common heart surgery procedure performed on adults to treat blockages in the arteries, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLIBI). Open heart surgery is used to treat coronary heart disease, such as heart attacks and coronary artery disease.
“This distinction represents the recognition of a complete cardiothoracic program providing standard and complex high-risk cardiac surgery locally,” said Nicholas Lopez, MD, at Baptist Health Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery, “Providing a high-quality program is not just doing the operation but having a structure in place to help a patient. “
“Unique to our program is a follow-up clinic driven by a team of nurse practitioners that evaluate all post-cardiac surgery patients within a week to ensure a safe and effective transition from the hospital to home. These efforts help avoid returns to the hospital and assist with patient recovery,” said Dr. Lopez.
Reducing complications after open heart surgery is critical to ensuring patients recover safely and effectively. Complications such as infection, heart failure and arrhythmia can lead to prolonged suffering, delayed healing, and additional healthcare costs for patients and families. Baptist Health Paducah works tirelessly to minimize these risks, emphasizing high-quality care and follow-up programs to support patients’ transitions from hospital to home to reduce complications.
Keeping unplanned readmission rates low not only reflects a commitment to excellence but also helps reduce strain on healthcare resources and improves overall patient outcomes. By prioritizing comprehensive care and preventing unnecessary hospital returns, Baptist Health Paducah fosters a smoother recovery journey for its patients.
To learn more about Baptist Health Paducah’s cardiac services, visit www.baptisthealth.com.
Baptist Health Paducah is a regional medical and referral center serving about 200,000 patients a year from four states. With more than 1,300 employees and 260 physicians, it offers 44 points of care with a full range of services, including cardiac and cancer care, diagnostic imaging, women’s and children’s services, surgery, emergency treatment, rehabilitation, and more. It has the region’s first heart center and only accredited chest pain center and certified stroke center with 24/7 neurohospitalist coverage, as well as Paducah’s only comprehensive cancer center and Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care unit. Baptist Health Paducah has a network of healthcare providers for patients in western Kentucky and southern Illinois — from Baptist Health Medical Group physician offices to Baptist Health Urgent Care and Occupational Medicine locations. The hospital is also designated Pathway to Excellence® for excellence in nursing services by the American Nursing Credentialing Center. It opened in 1953 as Western Baptist Hospital and changed its name in early 2013, along with other facilities in Baptist Health, the largest not-for-profit healthcare systems in Kentucky. Learn more at BaptistHealth.com/Paducah.