When choosing a hospital, find out how many cardiac procedures are performed there. The American College of Cardiology reco mmends choosing a hospital that does at least 250 coronary artery bypasses a year. By the same token, when selecting a cardiovascular surgeon, make sure he or she performs at least 100 bypasses annually. Numbers are also important when it comes to open heart surgeries. Last year, Christ Hospital performed 970-more than any other hospital in Illinois.
High numbers are also important when it comes to balloon angioplasty.
The more angioplasties performed by a doctor, the lower the complication rates, according to a recent study in the journal Circulation. Check the vital signs. Mortality rates also can be an indication of a program's strength. Just be sure that the numbers you're comparing are risk-adjusted rates, which take into consideration the complexity of the cases handled by the hospital. Choose a doctor and program that listen.