Pediheart Podcast #299: Public Reporting In Congenital Heart Surgery - The Good, The Bad And The Opportunities

This week we review a recent editorial commentary from multiple congenital heart surgical leaders in the US today. The topic of their expert opinion piece is the concept of public reporting of results and their 'amplification' through organizations such as US News and World Report, to name one. How has the use of the database from STS been sometimes misinterpreted through public reporting or ranking systems? What was the initial intent of the STS database and how does the present usage of these data differ from the initial intent? Do STS risk adjustment models capture all aspects of risk for patients undergoing surgery and how do deficiencies in this result in unfair 'rankings' of programs? Can we 'take control' of our data and interpret it more clearly and accurately for the public and reduce misusage or misinterpretation of the data? How can public reporting result in improved outcomes? How can 'gaming' of the system be reduced? Dr. Emile Bacha, Professor of Surgery at Columbia University shares his deep insights into a complex and challenging topic. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2023.03.022