In the long shadow of a devastating, world-disrupting pandemic, it can be easy to lose sight of the other health issues that afflict us. Deadly and awful as COVID has been, it’s heart disease that remains America’s leading killer, claiming roughly 690,000 lives last year. And cardiovascular disease affects many more: Nearly 127 million Americans suffered from some form of it between 2015 and 2018, according to the American Heart Association. The coronavirus, of course, has made managing such conditions more difficult—adding risk and complicating care.
It’s that context that makes the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals list all the more salient this year: High-quality, cost-effective care for heart patients has arguably never been more important.
Our study data showed a 13.5% decline in patients treated for cardiovascular conditions in 2020, a sharp downturn that likely reflects people delaying and avoiding care during the pandemic—and suggests a wave of people seeking treatment for time-worsened issues to come. Meanwhile, the number of patients diagnosed with heart failure is projected to rise by 46%, to more than 8 million, by 2030. In total, heart disease is estimated to cost the country about $363 billion per year, a figure that will also almost certainly grow.
That’s why in this annual ranking of top cardiovascular hospitals—IBM Watson Health’s 20th—we consider a broad range of indicators from publicly available data to evaluate performance, including inpatient and 30-day mortality, patient complications, 30-day readmission, and average lengths of stay. We also assess 30-day episode-of-care payment and adjusted cost per case, for acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary intervention, and heart-failure patients. This year, we also added a patient experience measure to our criteria. (Hospitals do not apply for awards, and winners do not pay to market this honor.)
Among 951 short-term, acute care, nonfederal hospitals that treat a broad spectrum of heart patients, the winning 50 bested the field when it came to indicators intended to measure clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, financial performance, and patient experience. By IBM Watson Health’s calculation, if all U.S. cardiovascular hospitals performed at such a level, we’d be much better off—with 6,400 fewer lives lost, 5,000 fewer bypass and angioplasty patients who suffer complications, and $1.4 billion saved each year.
That’s of course what makes this ranking most important. In our underperforming, bank-breaking health care system, these honorees show the way. —Erika Fry
Top community hospitals
1. Oklahoma Heart Hospital South
Location: Oklahoma City
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 1
Website
2. Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center
Location: Indianapolis
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 10
Website
3. Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center
Location: Reno, Nev.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 4
Website
4. Oklahoma Heart Hospital North
Location: Oklahoma City
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 7
Website
5. Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center
Location: Medford, Ore.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 8
Website
6. McLaren Northern Michigan
Location: Petoskey, Mich.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 6
Website
7. Bellin Hospital
Location: Green Bay, Wis.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 12
Website
8. UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital
Location: Waterloo, Iowa
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 5
Website
9. Parkwest Medical Center
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 10
Website
10. Harlingen Medical Center
Location: Harlingen, Texas
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 4
Website
Top teaching hospitals with a cardiovascular residency program
1. Mayo Clinic Rochester
Location: Rochester, Minn.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 11
Website
2. Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Location: Philadelphia
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 8
Website
3. Riverside Methodist Hospital
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 11
Website
4. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Temple
Location: Temple, Texas
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 13
Website
5. Kettering Medical Center
Location: Kettering, Ohio
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 10
Website
6. Ascension Borgess Hospital
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 6
Website
7. University Hospital
Location: Madison, Wis.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 12
Website
8. Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
Location: Atlanta
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
9. UNC REX Hospital
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 5
Website
10. Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
Location: Winfield, Ill.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
11. Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital-Plano
Location: Plano, Texas
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 1
Website
12. Froedert Hospital
Location: Milwaukee
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
13. Baylor University Medical Center
Location: Dallas
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 7
Website
14. Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Location: Chicago
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 3
Website
15. Mayo Clinic Florida
Location: Jacksonville, Fla.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 3
Website
16. St. Luke’s University Hospital-Bethlehem
Location: Bethlehem, Pa.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 7
Website
17. Mercy Medical Center
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
18. Intermountain Medical Center
Location: Murray, Utah
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
19. Summa Health System-Akron Campus
Location: Akron, Ohio
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 6
Website
20. Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
Top teaching hospitals without a cardiovascular residency program
1. Eisenhower Medical Center
Location: Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 6
Website
2. Redmond Regional Medical Center
Location: Rome, Ga.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
3. St. Joseph’s Hospital
Location: Tampa
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 4
Website
4. Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Location: Overland Park, Kans.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 1
Website
5. Bronson Methodist Hospital
Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 3
Website
6. TriStar Centennial Medical Center
Location: Nashville
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 4
Website
7. Aspirus Wausau Hospital
8. Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Location: St. Louis
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 1
Website
9. Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Location: Sarasota, Fla.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 8
Website
10. The Medical Center of Aurora
Location: Aurora, Colo.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 1
Website
11. Chippenham Hospital
12. Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Location: Missoula, Mont.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 11
Website
13. Chester County Hospital
Location: West Chester, Pa.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
14. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Hillcrest
Location: Waco, Texas
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
15. Baton Rouge General – Bluebonnet
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 2
Website
16. The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital
Location: Greensboro, N.C.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 3
Website
17. St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital
Location: Ypsilanti, Mich.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 12
Website
18. Beaumont Hospital, Troy
Location: Troy, Mich.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 5
Website
19. Atrium Health Pineville
20. Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola
Location: Pensacola, Fla.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rank: ★★★★
Heart failure (HF) rank: ★★★★★
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) rank: ★★★★★
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rank: ★★★★★
Total number of years on 50 Top list: 5
Website
50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals Methodology
See also: 100 Top Hospitals
In April, Fortune and IBM Watson Health published the 100 Top Hospitals list, which featured the 40 Top Teaching Hospitals and 60 Top Community Hospitals in the U.S., as well as the 15 Top Health Systems.
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