Excellence in care

Park Nicollet's heart and vascular services are nationally recognized for innovation and top-notch cardiovascular care. Examples of the Heart and Vascular Center’s commitment to leadership in heart care include the following.

A leading cardiovascular center in America

For a third time, Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center and Methodist Hospital earned the distinction of being named one of the 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals in America for 2006 by Solucient_®, a respected provider of health care information. Fewer than 2 percent of America’s 6,000 hospitals make this prestigious list.

Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center and Methodist Hospital also were named a Solucient 100 Top Hospital in 2001 and 2005.

A heart care leader

When it comes to treating heart attacks, heart disease and open heart surgeries, Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center and Methodist Hospital perform in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide. That’s according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

About 270 hospitals nationwide were selected to participate in a study measuring evidence-based practice standards that have proven to lead to better patient outcomes and reduce the risks of complications and death.
 
CMS found Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center and Methodist Hospital ranks in the top 10 percent in treating heart disease, heart attacks and coronary artery bypass graft operations.

Award-winning heart attack care

Our comprehensive approach to heart attack care has earned numerous local and national honors, including an American Medical Group Association Acclaim Award, for national excellence in improving health care quality.

Methodist Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the Twin Cities to initiate a heart attack program characterized by primary angioplasty and stent placement. This program has reduced the time it takes to treat a heart attack to 62 minutes, 30 percent faster than hospitals of similar size. As a result, Methodist Hospital boasts some of the highest survival rates in the country.  More information

Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care

Blue Cross and Blue Shield recognized Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center and Methodist Hospital as a 2007 Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care_SM.

The Blue Distinction centers for cardiac care are designated facilities within participating Blue Cross plans’ service areas that meet stringent quality criteria, as established by expert physician panels and national organizations. By meeting these requirements, the Centers demonstrate better outcomes and consistency of care, and provide greater value for Blue members.

Leading in technology

Park Nicollet has been a leader in using the latest technology to improve patient care. We were the first in Minnesota to use all-digital angiography and echocardiography systems in 2001.

Today, the remarkable, new Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center offers some of the latest technology in the world, including:

• Minnesota’s first combined nuclear/CT imaging system for consistently clearer nuclear stress images 
• one of the first 64-slice cardiac CT scanners in the country, producing detailed pictures of the heart from outside the body
• sophisticated cardiac MRI for viewing arteries

Electronic medical records

Along with being a leader in technology of the heart, Park Nicollet is a national leader in using electronic medical records to help our heart and vascular doctors instantly locate the details of a patient’s health history. This can save critical minutes in the event of a heart attack. No matter where patients were seen in Park Nicollet – at any of our clinics, six urgent care locations or Methodist Hospital – our doctors have immediate access to their records.

Patients can access their medical records from home, using Patient Online_®. Patient Online is a secure Web service that lets patients view parts of their medical record and communicate with their doctors from their own computer. Learn more

Nationally certified services

• Our echocardiography laboratory was one of the first triple-accredited laboratories in Minnesota by Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL). ICAEL recognizes laboratories that meet rigorous national standards for quality, trained personnel and measured outcomes.
• Our cardiac rehabilitation program has been nationally accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation_®. The certification recognizes the high standards in exercise, education and counseling offered by our cardiac rehabilitation professionals.
• Vascular laboratory is one of only two Minnesota laboratories accredited in four or more services by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). ICAVL recognizes laboratories that meet rigorous national standards for quality, trained personnel and measured outcomes.

Revolutionary open-heart surgery

Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center was one of the first in the country to adopt "beating heart" surgery using the Octopus_™ Tissue Stabilizer. In fact, one of our heart center cardiac surgeons played an integral part in developing this pioneering procedure.

"Beating heart" surgery is less traumatic for patients, reduces risks, lessens patient recovery time and, best of all, keeps the heart beating.

Heart and Vascular Center record of leadership

2007

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield national Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care_SM
• One of nation’s 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals from Solucient, a respected provider of health information.
• Park Nicollet Heart and Vascular Center and Methodist Hospital perform in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide for treating heart attacks, heart disease and open heart surgeries, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

2006

• One of nation’s 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals from Solucient, a respected provider of health information
• Health Front Gold Award for excellence in comprehensive disease management

2005

• One of nation’s 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals from Solucient, a respected provider of health information

• Premier “Q Award” for excellence in heart attack care
• Health Front Gold Award for excellence in quality
• Health Front Award for Innovation in health care quality
• Health Partners Outcomes Recognition Award for excellence in coronary artery disease
• Health Partners Outcomes Recognition Award of excellence in cardiology patient satisfaction

2004

• Health Front “Gold Award” for comprehensive disease management, including around coronary artery disease

2003

• Premier “Q Award” for excellence in heart attack care

2002

• American Medical Group Acclaim Award for excellence in heart attack care

2001

• One of nation’s 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals from Solucient, a respected provider of health information
• HealthFront “Special Recognition Award” for improving management of coronary artery disease