Clinical Outcomes Data — Online CABG Report Cards

Public Release of Clinical Outcomes Data — Online CABG Report Cards

NEJM | September 7, 2010 | Topics: Quality of Care

Timothy G. Ferris, M.D., M.P.H., and David F. Torchiana, M.D.

On September 7, 2010, Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) reported the results of coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures at 221 U.S. cardiac surgery programs.¹ The voluntary reporting of risk-adjusted outcomes in approximately 20% of U.S. cardiac surgery programs is a watershed event in health care accountability.

The reported ratings derive from a registry developed by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in 1989. More than 90% of the approximately 1100 U.S. cardiac surgery programs participate in the registry. Registry data are collected from patients’ charts and include key outcomes such as complications and death, the severity of preoperative illness, coexisting conditions, surgical technique, and medications. These data are maintained by the Duke Clinical Research Institute and are analyzed with the use of well-tested statistical methods. The data-collection and auditing methods, specifications of the measures, and statistical approaches have evolved over the course of two decades and reflect a substantial commitment by cardiac surgeons and their leadership.^2,3/.../