By Nurse Deb, Division President of AIMM, a Vensure Employer Solutions Company

February is Heart Month—a time to raise awareness about heart health and the importance of making informed choices. As a nurse, I’ve seen firsthand how those choices can be the difference between smooth sailing and heartbreak.

Several years ago, when objective quality scores for physicians and facilities first became available, we worked with a patient experiencing cardiac issues. He needed a PTCA (a procedure to clear blockages in the heart’s arteries), so we did what we always do: researched the quality scores of his chosen physician and facility. What we found was concerning.

The doctor’s quality score was a solid C-minus—not exactly reassuring for a procedure as critical as heart care. While the facility’s overall score wasn’t terrible, it wasn’t the best in town for open-heart surgery. Now, most PTCA procedures don’t require open-heart surgery, but in the rare instance of complications, having a facility that excels at both can mean the difference between life and death.

We presented our findings to the patient and explained our concerns. Changing doctors and facilities would’ve been inconvenient, but we believed it was worth the effort for better odds of success. Ultimately, the patient decided to stay the course with his original choices.

Unfortunately, he became one of the rare cases where the PTCA went wrong. He required emergency open-heart surgery, which led to complications, including a severe infection in his sternum. He spent weeks in the ICU, racked up over a million dollars in medical bills, and faced a grueling six-month recovery. There were moments when we weren’t sure he’d make it.

But here’s the silver lining. Despite the challenges, this patient recovered and eventually returned to work. About a year later, he needed knee surgery and called us right away. “If I would have listened to you about my heart, I wouldn’t have had to go through all that,” he said. “So, where should I go for this knee?”

We guided him to a top-rated provider, and his knee surgery was smooth sailing. No complications, no setbacks—just a successful procedure and a speedy recovery.

Now, can we say with absolute certainty that going to a higher-scoring doctor and facility for his heart would have prevented complications? No. Medicine doesn’t come with guarantees. But what we can say is that choosing high-quality providers stacks the deck in your favor, giving you the best possible chance for the best possible outcome.

This Heart Month, take a moment to reflect on your healthcare choices. Objective quality scores exist for a reason: to help you make informed decisions. Whether it’s for your heart, your knees, or any other part of your body, let’s make sure you’re putting your health in the hands of the best. Because when it comes to your heart—and your health overall—C-minus just isn’t good enough.

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