Blue Shield of California recognizes Seton for excellence in cardiac care
Once again, the cardiovascular team at Seton Medical Center has proven that a commitment to clinical excellence yields powerful results. In July 2005, Seton was recognized for expertise in cardiac care by Blue Shield of California—one of 28 hospitals in the state, and one of four in the Bay Area, to receive this distinction.
“We’re honored to be recognized for our excellent cardiac care program and applaud Blue Shield for providing the public with information that could help them decide where to receive cardiac care,” says Bernadette M. Smith, President and CEO of Seton Medical Center.
Why does our heart care garner so much attention? It starts with an ingrained philosophy that caring is powerful medicine. Everyone at Seton who treats cardiac patients has a deep commitment to serving people and a passion for providing the best care possible.
“What sets Seton apart is the degree of cooperation among our staff and our integrated approach to patient care,” says Michael Girolami, M.D., Chief of Cardiology at Seton. “We have a strong team approach to everything we do.”
From this passion, team approach, and high level of expertise, Seton’s cardiologists and surgeons, nurses, administrators, and Emergency Department staff work together to continually scrutinize, streamline, and improve every aspect of heart care at Seton, from the timely treatment of heart attacks to the acquisition of the latest technology.
In their presentation to Blue Shield, Seton’s experts explained the results of this diligence. Seton met or exceeded the optimal level in key quality criteria set by Blue Shield’s Cardiac Quality Initiative. For example, Blue Shield’s target for Cardiac Catheterization Lab procedures was 700, and its minimum requirement was 200; Seton performed 1,213 procedures last year. Seton’s patient outcomes for heart surgeries and procedures exceeded expectations. On average, Seton delivered heart attack patients to its Cardiac Catheterization Lab faster than the national guideline.
Seton’s experts demonstrated their strong compliance with nationally recognized standards of care and their outstanding capabilities in managing cardiac illnesses, from preventive care to cardiac rehabilitation. Seton implemented a state-of-the-art Electrophysiology Lab to treat heart rhythm disorders, and uses CT angiography to diagnose heart problems noninvasively. Innovative surgeries treat congestive heart failure, a major health issue in our community.
“We’re a Center of Excellence because of our capabilities and our outstanding outcomes,” says Colman Ryan, M.D., Executive
and Medical Director of the San Francisco Heart and Vascular Institute. “We’re heavily committed to maintaining this level of care.”
To reach the San Francisco Heart and Vascular Institute or to make an appointment with a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon affiliated with Seton Medical Center, call 650.991.6601, or visit our Web site at SMC.