Johnston Health named state’s only 5-Star Hospital for Cardiac Pacemaker Procedures

Johnston Health is proud to be North Carolina’s only hospital to receive a 5-Star Rating for Cardiac Pacemaker Procedures in 2020, according to a national study by Healthgrades, the leading online resource for information about physicians and hospitals.

This achievement is part of findings released in the Healthgrades 2020 Report to the Nation. The new report demonstrates the importance of hospital quality to both hospital leaders and consumers, and recognizes Johnston Health’s commitment to quality patient outcomes.

Variation in hospital quality can have a significant impact on the quality of care a patient receives. Healthgrades compared 2020 Award Recipient Hospitals as a group, to all other hospitals, and found that on average:

• Patients have a 57.3% lower risk of complication if treated at hospitals that received the 5-Star for Cardiac Pacemaker Procedures, versus hospitals that received a 1-Star.
• Patients are 2.3 times more likely to experience one or more complications if treated at hospitals rated 1-Star for Cardiac Pacemaker Procedures, versus hospitals that received a 5-Star. (Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2016 through 2018 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.)

“Consumers have many choices when it comes to choosing a hospital where to receive care and the choice can be a matter of life and death,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Healthgrades. “The hospitals that have been recognized as 5-Star rated for specific procedures and conditions stand out above the rest for the ongoing dedication and commitment to providing exceptional care to their patients.”

Eric Janis, MD, is chairman of Johnston Health’s board of directors and the cardiologist who has helped shape the hospital’s cardiology program during the past 25 years. With leadership from the board and administrative team, heart care continues to be a top priority, he says, with investments in training and technology, and expansions in services, including electrophysiology and, most recently, interventional cardiology procedures such as stenting.
Also notable, with support from the Johnston Health Foundation, the hospital opened a modern catheterization lab in 2016 with a dedicated holding and recovery area.
“Our doctors and nurses, as well as our services and quality of care are superior,” Dr. Janis says. “Our expertise in cardiology, vascular disease, orthopedics, oncology care, and hospital care allow us to be a hospital where you go to get the very best.”

Geoffrey F. Lewis, MD, is head of the electrophysiology lab at Johnston Health. “Our team has great expertise and experience with pacemakers and defibrillators, and we’re continuing to advance our cardiac ablation program,” he adds. “The future is bright here at Johnston Health.”

Randy Cooper, MD, is co-director of electrophysiology at UNC REX, and has helped Johnston Health build its electrophysiology program. He says many of his patients who live outside of Raleigh love coming to Johnston Health because of its excellent service. “I’m so proud of this latest quality recognition,” he adds.

Johnston Health is also a national leader for excellence in Patient Experience, and has received the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ for 2 Years in a Row (2018-2019). Healthgrades is scheduled to release its 2020 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ recipients in May 2020.

“These awards are driven directly by patients’ feedback, giving them a voice in helping to improve the hospital experience while also helping other consumers make more informed health care decisions,” said Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades. “We’re proud to recognize the hospitals around the country that receive the Outstanding Patient Experience Award for their commitment to providing exceptional patient experiences and always striving to put the patient first.”

“This award reflects the commitment of our staff and physicians to provide safe, extraordinary patient-centered care, which is the core of everything we do,” said Tommy Williams, interim CEO of Johnston Health. “We take great pride in serving our community. And we’re continually striving to provide the highest level of care, safety and experience.”