Greenville, N.C – ECU Health’s East Carolina Heart Institute (ECHI) has earned four 3-star ratings, the highest rating possible, from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for excellence in adult cardiac surgery. Based on outcomes from January 2022 through December 2024, these ratings place ECU Health among the leading cardiac surgery programs in the U.S. and Canada.
The STS star rating system is widely considered one of the most reliable tools for evaluating cardiothoracic surgical outcomes. Ratings are determined from the STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD), which assesses clinical outcomes, risk-adjusted performance, and adherence to evidence-based care standards.
Each recognition is based on voluntarily submitted data to the STS National Database, established in 1989 to improve patient safety and surgical outcomes. The database now includes more than 10 million surgical records from over 6,000 physicians and captures over 95% of adult cardiac surgeries performed in the U.S.
“Achieving top-tier ratings across multiple procedure categories speaks not only to the expertise of our team members but also to our ability to bring high-quality cardiac care to the 1.4 million people who call eastern North Carolina home,” said Dr. Michael Bates, professor and chief for the division of cardiac surgery at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “These exceptional results support the trust our patients place in us and are a reflection of our commitment to earning that trust every case, every day.”
The 3-star ratings are in the following categories:
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a procedure designed to improve blood flow to the heart by bypassing blocked arteries. ECU Health ranks in the top 20 percent of programs nationwide in this category. This marks the fifth consecutive year ECU Health has earned the 3-star rating, reflecting exceptional performance dating back to 2017. Historically, only 21 percent of participants achieve this top-tier rating. ECU Health performs an average of 500 CABGs per year.
Aortic Valve Replacement + CABG
Combining aortic valve replacement (AVR) with CABG involves treating both valve disease and coronary artery blockages in a single operation. This dual procedure is highly complex and requires extensive expertise. ECU Health’s program is recognized in the top 7 percent of centers nationwide for this category, a distinction typically earned by just 5 percent of participating institutions. The rating highlights the team’s precision, coordination, and skill in managing multifaceted cardiac cases. ECU Health performs about 40 Aortic Valve Replacement + CABG per year.
Mitral Valve Repair or Replacement (MVRR)
ECU Health earned its first 3-star rating for mitral valve repair or replacement, moving up from a previous 2-star designation. This improvement underscores significant advancements in surgical outcomes and patient care. ECU Health performs an average of 60 MVRRs per year. Only 11 percent of programs nationwide receive 3 stars in this category, making this achievement particularly notable.
Multiprocedural Composite Score
The STS introduced a new multiprocedural composite score this year evaluating outcomes across a range of cardiac surgeries, including CABG, AVR, MVRR and various combinations. ECU Health earned a 3-star rating in this category as well, placing it in the top 28 percent of participating programs. The rating reflects institutional excellence, consistency and a commitment to delivering high-quality care across a broad surgical spectrum.
ECHI is dedicated to advancing cardiovascular health through education, research, treatment, and prevention. ECHI brings together expert physicians and professional staff to deliver comprehensive, high-quality care for both adults and children. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and techniques, ECHI addresses a wide spectrum of cardiovascular conditions from common risk factors to rare and complex diseases. Services span prevention, diagnosis and surgical interventions, followed by rehabilitation and patient education. By integrating basic science, clinical research, and hands-on medical practice, ECHI ensures each patient receives the most advanced and personalized treatment available.
“These recognitions affirm ECU Health’s commitment to creating a national model for academic rural health care – one that brings world-class, highly-specialized services directly to the communities that need them most,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. “Eastern North Carolina faces high rates of chronic heart disease, and our cardiac surgery program exemplifies how advanced care can be delivered close to home. We are proud to lead the way in transforming rural health through innovation and collaboration.”