National recognition reflects sustained clinical excellence as NCH advances the future R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center
August 5, 2026 – The NCH Rooney Heart Institute has once again earned the highest possible three-star ratings from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), reaffirming its position among the nation’s leading cardiac surgery programs and demonstrating a longstanding commitment to exceptional patient outcomes.
The Institute received three-star ratings in Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR), and the Multiprocedural Composite Quality Rating covering a three-year period from July 2022 through June 2025. The STS star rating system is one of the most rigorous and respected measures of quality in healthcare, evaluating patient outcomes and performance across a three-year period.
These latest recognitions continue a legacy of excellence for the NCH Rooney Heart Institute, which has maintained top-tier performance in cardiac surgery for more than a decade. The STS ratings place NCH among an elite group of hospitals nationwide recognized for superior outcomes in cardiac surgery.
“The Society of Thoracic Surgeons leads the effort in quality improvement by maintaining one of the most penetrant clinical databases in cardiothoracic surgery that employs high-fidelity risk models to provide risk-adjusted outcomes to individual participants,” said Ram Kumar Subramanyan, MD, PhD, Chair of the STS Council on Quality and Research. “STS thanks participants for voluntarily submitting data to the databases, demonstrating their commitment to improving healthcare delivery. Voluntary public reporting of outcomes by individual participants provides patients and their families with meaningful information to help them make informed decisions about healthcare.”
The cardiac surgery program at NCH now performs more than 1,000 advanced cardiac surgical procedures each year and has maintained a steadfast focus on quality, innovation and continuous improvement since its first coronary bypass surgery was performed in 1995. STS ratings are based on detailed analyses of patient outcomes, including mortality, morbidity and risk-adjusted performance measures, making them among the most trusted benchmarks in cardiovascular care.
“Earning the highest STS ratings year after year reflects the dedication, expertise and unwavering commitment of our entire cardiovascular team,” said Robert Cubeddu, MD, Brynne & Bob Coletti Endowed Chair and President of the NCH Rooney Heart Institute. “These recognitions are especially meaningful because they are based on patient outcomes. They affirm our mission to deliver world-class
cardiovascular care while continually advancing innovation and access for the patients and communities we serve.”
“The STS three-star ratings are earned through years of disciplined quality improvement, rigorous data analysis and a commitment to continuous learning,” said Robert Pascotto, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon at the NCH Rooney Heart Institute. “Our team carefully reviews every outcome and continually looks for opportunities to improve. That culture of accountability is what allows us to consistently deliver exceptional results for the patients who trust us with their care.”
The recognition comes at a transformative time for cardiovascular care at NCH as construction progresses on the R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center. Scheduled to open in 2027, the state-of-the-art facility will expand access to advanced cardiovascular and stroke services while supporting the continued growth of the Rooney Heart Institute.
“These ratings validate the culture of excellence embraced by our surgeons, nurses, advanced practice providers and multidisciplinary teams every day,” said Thomas Caranasos, MD, Vice President of the NCH Rooney Heart Institute, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and James & Jamie Yeh Endowed Chair. “As we look forward to the opening of the future R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center, we are building upon a strong foundation of exceptional outcomes and clinical expertise that will allow us to serve even more patients throughout Southwest Florida.”
The NCH Rooney Heart Institute continues to distinguish itself through nationally recognized quality outcomes, advanced cardiovascular technologies and a growing portfolio of specialized services. The program’s achievements include nationally leading performance metrics and recognition among the country’s top cardiovascular programs.
For more information about the NCH Rooney Heart Institute and cardiovascular services, visit NCHmd.org.
ABOUT NCH
NCH (Naples Comprehensive Health) is an Advanced Community Healthcare System™ serving Southwest Florida with premier routine, critical, and specialty care. NCH, a locally governed non-profit, is recognized as one of Healthgrades America’s Top 50 Hospitals which puts it in the top 1% in the nation for clinical excellence, in addition to being named a Top 50 Hospital for Surgical Care. The system is more than just two hospitals (referred to as the NCH Baker Hospital and NCH North Hospital) with more than 700 beds – NCH is an alliance of over 750 physicians and medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Florida and is the region’s only Joint Commission accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center. NCH cardiac care is ranked top three in the state by Healthgrades. NCH collaborates with the Hospital for Special Surgery for orthopedics, Northwestern Medicine for oncology, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for pediatrics, and ProScan Imaging for radiology services, ensuring top-tier medical care is available in Southwest Florida. With the largest provider network, urgent/immediate care centers, diagnostic facilities, and two hospitals, NCH is always advancing the quality of care near you. For more information, visit www.NCHmd.org.
