Southwest General Health Center Named One of the Nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals®

Southwest General Health Center, located in Middleburg Heights, OH, was identified as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals^® according to an independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard provided by Premier, Inc. (NASDAQ: PINC).

To create the list, an objective, quantitative analysis of publicly available data was conducted to identify the top cardiovascular hospitals in the U.S. The primary purpose of Premier’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals program is to inspire hospital and health system leaders to pursue higher performance and deliver added value to patients and communities. Organizations do not apply to participate in the study, and award winners do not pay to market their honor.

"This prestigious recognition as a 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals^® is a testament to the dedication of our physicians, nurses and support staff at Southwest General,” said William A. Young, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Southwest General. “We are incredibly proud of this achievement, which underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality, patient-centered cardiovascular care to our community. Additionally, this award motivates us to continue striving for excellence in heart care and the best possible outcomes for our patients."

Performance of Facilities on Premier’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals Program List

Compared to peer hospitals, those in the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals operated at lower cost and had better outcomes, recording significantly higher inpatient survival rates, fewer patients with complications, lower readmission rates and up to nearly $7,000 less in total costs per patient case. Additionally, these hospitals reported:

• 25 percent fewer acute myocardial infarction (AMI) deaths and 66 percent fewer coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) deaths
• 30 percent fewer percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and 19 percent fewer CABG patients with complications
• Higher 30-day survival rates for AMI, heart failure (HF) and CABG patients (0.4 to 1.2 percentage points higher)
• Lower 30-day readmission rates for AMI, HF and CABG patients (0.2 to 0.5 percentage points lower)
• Shorter average lengths of stay between patient groups – 0.5 for AMI, 0.4 for HF, 0.3 for PCI and one full day for CABG
• $1,386 to $6,974 less in total costs per patient case (the smallest dollar-amount difference was for HF and the largest was for CABG)
• Better patient experience at top performing hospitals compared to the remaining peer hospitals, with a top-box Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) score of 72 percent versus 68 percent

These outcomes add up to meaningful differences. According to the study’s analysis, if all hospitals operated at the level of this year’s performers, there could be 14,000 fewer deaths due to heart disease, 28,600 fewer bypass and angioplasty patients who suffer complications and more than $1.5 billion in inpatient costs saved for the 2025 study year.

“Heart disease is America’s leading cause of death, affecting roughly 127.9 million Americans and costing more than $252 billion,” said David Zito, Premier’s president, Performance Services. “As hospitals and health systems strive for continuous improvement in cardiovascular care, data-driven insights and transformational strategies are vital for ensuring patient-centric care aligned with optimized financial and operational performance. Premier’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals program helps hospitals evaluate national cardiovascular disease trends and develop strategies to deliver targeted, evidence-based care.”

Southwest General's Cardiovascular Services

At Southwest General, we provide comprehensive and advanced cardiovascular care to our community. Our heart and vascular services and programs include invasive and minimally invasive procedures, non-invasive procedures, cardiac rehabilitation and heart failure programs.

Award-Winning Cardiac Care

Southwest General’s Heart & Vascular Institute has received many awards and recognition for quality care, including:

• The Joint Commission Heart Failure Certification
• The Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® in treating heart attack/heart failure
• Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure Gold Quality Achievement Award by the American Heart Association
• Get With The Guidelines® Platinum Performance Achievement Award by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Foundation’s NCDR® ACTION Registry®
• Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care® by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies

We are committed to utilizing evidence-based practices to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. Our team of experienced cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, nurses and other healthcare professionals work collaboratively to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique needs.

About Southwest General

Southwest General is a private, not-for-profit, 368-bed acute care facility located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Founded in 1920, Southwest General is home to nationally recognized physicians with full access to state-of-the-art technology. Southwest General has a deep commitment to providing personalized care and building a healthy future for the patients, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit swgeneral.com or find Southwest General on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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