Lee Health Hospital Again Named Among Nation’s Top 50 for Heart Care

For Third Straight Year, IBM Watson Health Includes HealthPark Medical Center on List of 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals

(Fort Myers, Fla. – Nov. 26, 2019) --- Lee Health’s HealthPark Medical Center is among the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals again, joining some of the most elite hospitals in the country for top heart care, including the Mayo Clinic.

IBM Watson Health’s 50 top-performing cardiovascular hospitals represent the very best heart care in the United States. HealthPark Medical Center is one of only three hospitals in Florida to earn the designation and the only one south of Daytona Beach. It’s also the only hospital in the state to make the list three years in a row.

“We’re humbled to be again included among the top 50 hospitals in the country for cardiovascular care,” said Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, Lee Health president and CEO. “This recognition demonstrates the commitment our cardiovascular teams bring to caring for their patients every day and is further proof the Southwest Florida community doesn’t need to leave home to receive leading-edge, high-quality, patient-centered care.”

This year's study included 989 US hospitals with cardiovascular service lines utilizing independent and objective research to analyze hospital and health system performance in key clinical and operational areas for selected cardiovascular procedures and medical care. The winners delivered better outcomes while operating more efficiently and at a lower cost, based on comparisons between the study winners and a peer group of similar hospitals in the study. 

“Cardiovascular care is a complex, yet essential service, so to earn a spot among the 50 best hospitals in the country for three straight years is really an honor and a testament to the excellence our team delivers every day. We thrive on providing compassionate, world-class care for our patients and we couldn’t be more proud to receive this award,” said Richard Chazal, M.D., medical director of the Lee Health Heart and Vascular Institute and Past-President of the American College of Cardiology.

The rankings are divided by category, including Teaching Hospitals with Cardiovascular Residency Programs, Teaching Hospitals without Cardiovascular Residency Programs and Community Hospitals. HealthPark Medical Center – and Lee Memorial Hospital –  are included on the Teaching Hospitals without Cardiovascular Residency Program.

The annual study identifies top U.S. hospitals for inpatient cardiovascular services based on a balanced national scorecard of hospital performance metrics, including outcomes, clinical processes and efficiency measures. 

The IBM Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study (formerly the Truven Health Analytics study) is an annual, quantitative, objective study that recognizes the nation’s best providers of cardiovascular care, based on publicly available data and a balanced look at operational, clinical and financial performance metrics. The study is part of the Watson Top 100 Hospitals program. For more information about the 100 Top Hospitals program, go to www.100TopHospitals.com.