Washington Hospital has been a leader in the surgical intervention and treatment of adult heart disease for the last 17 years. The cardiac surgery program focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to providing care for our patients.

The cardiac surgery program at Washington Hospital recognizes the importance of meeting the needs of our patients. We have assembled a team of expert healthcare providers that support and care for our patients and families. The patient who has cardiac surgery at Washington Hospital will meet with the cardiac surgeon, the anesthesiologist, our pre-operative staff, and one of our cardiac rehabilitation nurses. Prior to surgery the patient and his/her family will be interviewed and examined in order to plan for their specific needs prior to, during and after surgery.

Immediately after surgery patients are cared for in the coronary care unit (CCU) by our critical care nursing staff. Our experienced nursing staff provides care using a combination of technological expertise and genuine concern for the patient in order to meet the physical and emotional well-being and comfort of our patients and families. The patient is transferred from the coronary intensive care unit as soon as they are able, where nursing care in provided in a less intense environment. Patients remain on cardiac monitoring and begin to take meals and walk in the room and hallways. Physical therapists and occupational therapists begin working with our patients as soon as the patient is able.

The goal of physical and occupational therapy is to assist the patient in their recovery from surgery and return to their previous level of activity. Dietitians review how to modify the patient's diet to provide a "heart healthy" approach to eating. When needed, our pharmacist provides medication counseling prior to discharge. A member of our case management team meets with the patient and family to develop a plan that will provide a safe and comfortable transition back to home prior to discharge. The discharge plan may include visits from home health assistants, registered nurses, and perhaps physical or occupational therapists.

We contribute data voluntarily to the Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS). The data we submit quarterly benchmarks our program with other cardiac surgery programs in California as well as across the country. We have learned from our participation with the STS that our cardiac surgical population receives high quality care with excellent patient outcomes. Integrating this information with our information gained from our internal quality improvement program allows us to continuously improve the care we can provide.

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