Quotes from STS Leaders for Use in Public Reporting Press Releases

QUOTE 1

“The Society of Thoracic Surgeons congratulates STS National Database participants who have received three-star ratings,” said David M. Shahian, MD, chair of the Task Force on Quality Measurement. “Only a very small percentage of participants nationally achieve this important recognition.”

QUOTE 2

“Offering the STS National Database and public reporting demonstrates the commitment of STS to the pursuit of excellence,” said David M. Shahian, MD, chair of the Task Force on Quality Measurement. “These activities promote quality in cardiothoracic surgery by showing participants their areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. They also demonstrate our belief in transparency and accountability by providing patients and their families with meaningful information to inform their health care decisions.”

QUOTE 3

“STS believes that the public has a right to see and better understand surgical outcomes,” said David M. Shahian, MD, chair of the Task Force on Quality Measurement. “Public reporting is an ethical responsibility of health care providers, and we take this very seriously in cardiothoracic surgery. Transparency of outcomes focuses the quality improvement activities of our participating programs and provides invaluable information for patients as they choose their health care providers.”

QUOTE 4

“STS and its members are committed to the accurate, comprehensive reporting of cardiothoracic surgical outcomes,” said David M. Shahian, MD, chair of the Task Force on Quality Measurement. “The Society has been the health care leader in measuring and reporting outcomes, and we will continue to expand our efforts in these areas.”

QUOTE 5

“STS is the leader in health care public reporting,” said David M. Shahian, MD, chair of the Task Force on Quality Measurement. “We provide easily accessible, web-based information on all major procedures, with varying levels of detail available depending on the preferences of each viewer. Patients and their families have a right to make informed decisions about the choice of treatment and providers, and public reporting is one way to facilitate this.”