Star Power: Lung surgery program recognized by the largest cardiothoracic surgery organization in the world

Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer in both men and women in the U.S., with experts estimating around 235,000 new cases to be diagnosed this year alone. When this diagnosis occurs, treatment may include surgery to remove a lobe, or section of the lung, that contains the disease to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body. This procedure is called a lung lobectomy.

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville’s Thoracic Surgery Program earned a three-star rating, the highest level, for lung lobectomy procedures for patients with early-to-stage-III lung cancer. This recognition places it among the elite programs in the US and Canada rated by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).

Thoracic surgeons who perform these procedures are affiliated with Baptist Health and bring a compassionate, multi-disciplinary approach to every patient’s treatment plan through Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center’s model of cancer care.

“The three-star rating reflects our commitment to high standards and excellence for those who need surgery following a diagnosis of lung cancer,” explained Subrato J. Deb, MD, MPH, thoracic surgeon at Baptist MD Anderson. “Most importantly, the data represents people; people who had an excellent outcome following their lung lobectomy and the people behind the patient – our dedicated team of experts.”

Taking a minimally invasive approach

Lung lobectomies are just one of the many procedures performed by the thoracic specialists at Baptist MD Anderson. In addition to lung cancer, other common conditions treated include benign chest tumors, esophageal cancer, thymoma, mesothelioma, and tumors of the chest wall. Many thoracic surgeries to help treat these conditions can be performed with a minimally invasive or robot-assisted approach, usually resulting in shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery times and less post-operative pain for patients.

“During robotic-assisted procedures, the surgeon controls everything: robotic arms equipped with miniature instruments and a high-definition camera for exceptional visibility and control,” said David Hall, MD, thoracic surgeon at Baptist MD Anderson. “Using some of the latest technology helps us offer a smoother recovery for our patients.”

Measuring quality of care

The STS is a nonprofit professional organization for cardiothoracic surgeons and researchers dedicated to improving the lives of patients with diseases affecting the heart, lungs and esophagus. According to the STS, its 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 in the United States and Canada.” The ratings were calculated using rigorous quality measures; the data analysis covered January 2021 - December 2023 and data is refreshed every six months.

“This ranking is a testament to the long-term commitment of the teams who always put safety and quality first when caring for our patients who need surgery for lung cancer,” said Bill Putnam, MD, FACS, medical director and thoracic surgeon at Baptist MD Anderson and former chair of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. “This three-star rating is based on rigorous data analysis and objective outcomes. We are proud to be among the elite programs in the nation with this rating and we will continue to seek new ways to enhance our patient experience.”