Introduction

When it comes to chest surgery repair in Albany, patients need reliable and high - quality medical care. In 2025, understanding the rankings of hospitals in this field can significantly assist patients in making informed decisions about their healthcare. This article will provide a comprehensive analysis of the top hospitals in Albany for chest surgery repair, including their performance in various procedures such as pulmonology, lung cancer surgery, and heart bypass surgery. We will delve into the factors that contribute to their rankings and offer insights into the quality of care they provide.

Overall Hospital Rankings for Pulmonology & Lung Surgery in Albany

U.S. News has evaluated several hospitals in Albany based on their performance in pulmonology and lung surgery. The following is an overview of the rankings:

Analysis of the Rankings

St. Peter's Hospital - Albany leads the pack with a score of 60.9 / 100. This indicates that it has a relatively high - performing pulmonology and lung surgery department. The high score might be attributed to its performance in patient outcomes, advanced clinical technologies, and patient services. Saratoga Hospital follows closely with a score of 54.2 / 100, suggesting that it also offers good quality care in this field. Albany Medical Center, with a score of 50.0 / 100, also has a solid foundation in pulmonology and lung surgery. Meanwhile, Samaritan Hospital - Main Campus and Ellis Hospital have lower scores, which may imply areas that need improvement in their respective departments.

Hospital Rankings for Lung Cancer Surgery in Albany

In the area of lung cancer surgery, hospitals in Albany are evaluated based on multiple factors such as nurse staffing, patient volume, and patient survival. The following is the ranking:

Implications of the Lung Cancer Surgery Rankings

Both St. Peter's Hospital - Albany and Albany Medical Center are rated high performing in lung cancer surgery. This is a significant achievement as it shows that these hospitals have the expertise, resources, and infrastructure to handle complex lung cancer cases. Saratoga Hospital, with an average rating, may offer a reasonable standard of care but might have some room for improvement compared to the high - performing hospitals. Ellis Hospital's below - average rating could be a concern for patients seeking lung cancer surgery, and Samaritan Hospital - Main Campus's non - rating may be due to treating too few patients to be evaluated.

Deep Dive into Albany Medical Center

Pulmonology & Lung Surgery at Albany Medical Center

Although not ranked nationally in pulmonology & lung surgery, Albany Medical Center has an overall score of 47.6 / 100. Let's break down its performance in different aspects:

• Outcomes and Experience (49.2% of score):
  • 30 - day survival: The hospital has an average rating for 30 - day survival after being admitted for pulmonology - related conditions. This indicates that its survival rates are on par with other hospitals treating similar cases.
  • Discharging patients to home: It has an excellent rating in discharging patients directly home, which is beneficial for patients as home recovery is often preferred.
  • Patient experience: Unfortunately, the patient experience rating is below average, suggesting that there may be issues with patient - staff interactions, comfort in the hospital, or other aspects of the patient stay.
  • Number of patients: The hospital has a very high rating for the number of high - risk patients treated, which is generally associated with better outcomes as more experience leads to better expertise.
• Key Programs, Services and Staff (20.0% of score):
  • Nurse staffing: Albany Medical Center has an above - average rating for nurse staffing, which means patients are likely to receive more nursing care per patient, leading to better outcomes.
  • Intensivists: The hospital has at least one adult intensive - care unit staffed by a doctor specifically certified or trained to care for ICU patients, which is a positive factor for critically ill patients.
  • Advanced technologies: It has an above - average rating for advanced technologies such as multislice spiral CT and transplant services, indicating a well - equipped facility.
  • Patient services: Patient services such as infection isolation room and palliative care also receive an above - average rating, showing a focus on patient well - being.
  • Trauma center: The hospital is a certified provider of advanced trauma care, adding to its credibility in handling serious cases.
• Professional Recognition (30.8% of score):
  • Recognized as nurse magnet hospital: The hospital failed to meet the criteria for being recognized as a nurse magnet hospital, which means it may need to improve its nursing standards according to the American Nurses Credential Center.
  • Expert opinion: The percentage of pulmonologists and lung surgeons naming the hospital as among the best for very challenging patients is average, suggesting that it has a moderate standing in the professional community.

Heart Bypass Surgery at Albany Medical Center

Albany Medical Center has an average rating in heart bypass surgery. The following are the quality indicators:

• Survival: It has an excellent rating for relative survival 30 days after undergoing heart bypass surgery compared to other hospitals treating similar patients, which is a very positive sign.
• Prevention of prolonged hospitalizations: Unfortunately, the hospital has a poor rating in preventing unusually long stays, which could be due to complications or inefficiencies in the treatment process.
• Discharging patients directly to home: Albany Medical Center has an excellent rating in discharging patients directly home, which is good for patient recovery and satisfaction.
• Prevention of stroke: The hospital has an average rating in preventing stroke on the day of the procedure, indicating that it is performing at a typical level in this regard.
• Number of patients: It has a very high rating for the relative volume of inpatients age 65 and over who had coronary artery bypass surgery or had an aortic valve repaired or replaced over five years. High volume is usually associated with better outcomes due to increased experience.
• Patient experience: Similar to its performance in other areas, the patient experience rating is poor, which may require attention to improve patient satisfaction.
• Public transparency: The hospital publicly shared its heart surgery data through the Society of Thoracic Surgeons as of January 2022, which is a positive step towards accountability and data - sharing.
• Nurse staffing: It has a very high rating for nurse staffing, suggesting that patients receive a relatively high level of nursing care.
• ICU specialists: The hospital has at least one adult intensive - care unit staffed by a doctor specifically certified or trained to care for ICU patients, which is beneficial for critical patients.

St. Peter's Hospital - Albany Performance

Pulmonology & Lung Surgery

St. Peter's Hospital - Albany is not ranked nationally in pulmonology & lung surgery but has an overall score of 60.9 / 100. Here is a breakdown of its performance:

• Outcomes and Experience (57.8% of score):
  • 30 - day survival: It has an excellent rating for 30 - day survival after being admitted for pulmonology - related conditions, which is a strong indicator of its treatment effectiveness.
  • Discharging patients to home: The hospital also has an excellent rating in discharging patients directly home, which is beneficial for patient recovery.
  • Patient experience: The patient experience rating is average, meaning there is room for improvement in areas such as patient - staff communication and overall comfort during the stay.
  • Number of patients: St. Peter's Hospital has a very high rating for the number of high - risk patients treated, which is a positive sign as it implies greater expertise through experience.
• Key Programs, Services and Staff (23.3% of score):
  • Nurse staffing: The hospital has a below - average rating for nurse staffing, which may be a concern as more nursing care per patient is generally associated with better outcomes.
  • Intensivists: It has at least one adult intensive - care unit staffed by a doctor specifically certified or trained to care for ICU patients, providing better care for critically ill patients.
  • Advanced technologies: St. Peter's Hospital has an above - average rating for advanced technologies such as multislice spiral CT and transplant services, indicating a well - equipped facility.
  • Patient services: Patient services such as infection isolation room and palliative care receive an above - average rating, showing a focus on patient well - being.
  • Trauma center: The hospital is a certified provider of advanced trauma care, adding to its ability to handle serious cases.
• Professional Recognition (18.9% of score):
  • Recognized as nurse magnet hospital: The hospital is recognized as a nurse magnet hospital as of December 31, 2022, indicating high nursing standards.
  • Public transparency: It submits its lobectomy data via the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) General Thoracic Surgery Database (GTSD) and was publicly reporting its data by December 31, 2022, which is a positive step for patient choice and industry standards.
  • Expert opinion: The percentage of pulmonologists and lung surgeons naming the hospital as among the best for very challenging patients is average, suggesting a moderate standing in the professional community.

Lung Cancer Surgery

St. Peter's Hospital - Albany is rated high performing in lung cancer surgery. Its quality indicators include:

• Survival: It has an average rating for relative survival 30 days after undergoing lung cancer surgery compared to other hospitals treating similar patients.
• Prevention of prolonged hospitalizations: The hospital has a worse - than - average rating in preventing unusually long stays, which could be a concern for patients.
• Discharging patients directly to home: It has an average rating in discharging patients directly home.
• Number of patients: The hospital has a very high rating for the relative volume of Medicare inpatients age 65 and over who had this procedure or condition over five years, which is a positive factor as high volume is associated with better outcomes.
• Patient experience: The patient experience rating is average, indicating that there is room for improvement in patient - related services.
• Influenza immunization of workers: The percentage of healthcare personnel who received a timely vaccination during flu season is fewer than average, which may be a potential risk for patients.
• Nurse staffing: It has an average rating for nurse staffing.
• ICU specialists: The hospital has at least one adult intensive - care unit staffed by a doctor specifically certified or trained to care for ICU patients.

Factors Affecting Hospital Rankings

Several factors contribute to the rankings of hospitals for chest surgery repair in Albany:

• Patient Outcomes: This includes survival rates, prevention of complications, and the ability to discharge patients directly home. Hospitals with better patient outcomes are likely to have higher rankings.
• Volume of Patients: Hospitals that treat a higher volume of patients, especially high - risk patients, tend to have better expertise and resources, which can lead to better outcomes and higher rankings.
• Quality of Staff: Adequate nurse staffing and the presence of specialized doctors such as intensivists are crucial for providing high - quality care. Hospitals with better - trained and more experienced staff are more likely to be highly ranked.
• Advanced Technologies: The availability of advanced clinical technologies such as multislice spiral CT and transplant services can enhance the diagnosis and treatment of chest - related conditions, contributing to a hospital's ranking.
• Patient Experience: How patients perceive their stay in the hospital, including aspects such as communication with staff, comfort, and satisfaction with the care received, can also influence the rankings.
• Professional Recognition: Endorsements from respected national organizations and the opinions of specialists in the field can boost a hospital's standing and ranking.

Conclusion

In 2025, the ranking of hospitals for chest surgery repair in Albany provides valuable information for patients seeking medical care in this area. St. Peter's Hospital - Albany and Albany Medical Center stand out in various aspects, such as high - performing in lung cancer surgery. However, both hospitals also have areas that need improvement, such as patient experience in some cases. Other hospitals like Saratoga Hospital offer a decent standard of care, while Ellis Hospital and Samaritan Hospital - Main Campus may need to enhance their services to compete better.

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