Surgeons’ group recognizes Health First’s heart program

Health First’s Heart & Vascular Program recently received a three-star overall recognition from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The honor recognizes Health First’s patient care and outcomes relative to isolated coronary artery bypass grafting procedures.

The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places Health First’s Heart & Vascular Program among the top for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada. 

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs across the United States and Canada.

The star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures performed by a Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participant.

“Our patients and their loved ones put their utmost trust in the skill, knowledge and hands of their surgical team, and when cardiac surgery of any form is advised, we want them to be comfortable and confident that they will receive the very best care,” said Dr. Matthew Campbell, chief cardiothoracic surgeon at Health First. “A coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is a highly complex procedure, and so this honor certainly reaffirms to our patients that this team has met the highest levels of excellence.”                

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“This is a tremendous honor for the entire heart and vascular team at Health First, highlighting our commitment to quality and patient outcomes,” said Dr. Seiichi Noda, another Health First cardiothoracic surgeon. “This three-star rating is a true testament to high level of expertise, care and service our team and the Heart & Vascular Program at Health First have built.”

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute within the National Institutes of Health, coronary artery bypass grafting, also called heart bypass surgery, is a medical procedure to improve blood flow to the heart. It may be needed when the arteries supplying blood to the heart, called coronary arteries, are narrowed or blocked.

Surgeons may recommend the surgery to either lower your risk of a heart attack if one is suffering from coronary heart disease, or, in an emergency situation, to treat a severe heart attack.      

Coronary artery bypass grafting uses healthy blood vessels from another part of the body and connects them to blood vessels above and below the blocked artery. This creates a new route for blood to flow that bypasses the narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. The blood vessels are usually arteries from the arm or chest, or veins from the legs.  

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About 20% of participants receive a three-star rating for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The latest analysis of data for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery covers a three-year period.

“The Society of Thoracic Surgeons congratulates Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database participants who have received three-star ratings,” said Dr. David M. Shahian, chair of the Task Force on Quality Measurement. “Participation in the database and public reporting demonstrates a commitment to quality improvement in health care delivery and helps provide patients and their families with meaningful information to help them make informed decisions about health care.”

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database houses about 6.9 million surgical records and gathers information from more than 3,800 participating physicians, including surgeons and anesthesiologists from more than 90% of groups that perform heart surgery in the United States.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons public reporting online enables Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participants to voluntarily report to each other and the public their heart surgery scores and star ratings.

Quest Elementary’s Bagby is BPS Employee of the Year

Terri Bagby, the before- and after-school coordinator at Quest Elementary School, was named Brevard Public Schools Employee of the Year.

The announcement was made earlier this month at the Employee of the Year Reception, part of the ABC (Applauding Brevard’s Champions) Awards Events, presented by Community Credit Union and hosted by the Brevard Schools Foundation.

Other finalists included Kelli Szymanski, clerk, Discovery Elementary School; Valerie L. Lance, bookkeeper, Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School; Jessica Reed, instructional assistant, John F. Kennedy Middle School; Timothy Cannon, foreman, Transportation Department; Ruth TeMaat, ESOL instructional assistant, Westside Elementary School.

“All our honorees embody the spirit of excellence and dedication that we celebrate in our education community,” said Janice Kershaw, president/CEO of the Brevard Schools Foundation. “Their contributions showcase not only their commitment to enhancing students’ lives, but also their tireless efforts in supporting the programs and initiatives of Brevard Public Schools. It’s inspiring to witness individuals who go above and beyond, making a lasting impact on our educational landscape.”

The Brevard Public School’s Employee of the Year award recognizes individuals who exemplify excellence in their roles.

All Employee of the Year honorees received a custom commemorative coin, courtesy of Highland Mint.

Beyond her official duties, Bagby volunteers during school registration and parent engagement events, and supports students with challenging behaviors.

Her commitment to public education and community service has been recognized with previous awards, including the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce Women of Excellence Recognition in February 2021. 

“Terri Bagby, the other finalists and all of the nominees for Employee of the Year represent the best of us,” Brevard Schools Superintendent Mark Rendell said. “They each make valuable contributions to the educational experience for our students. Everyone’s role may be different, but each person’s impact is integral to our mission.” 

Lucas joins Rock Paper Simple as sales director

Lindsay Lucas recently joined Rock Paper Simple, a full-service marketing company headquartered in Melbourne, as its sales director.

Lucas graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in media studies, and has worked with several major companies, including CNET, CBS, Autodesk, LinkedIn and Microsoft.

Before moving to the Space Coast, she was a senior marketing executive with LinkedIn Marketing Solutions.

To contact Lucas, call 321-626-2172 or go to rockpapersimple.com.

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