The St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana received the state’s top honor for cardiology services for the seventh consecutive year by HealthGrades, the nation’s most trusted, independent source of physician information and hospital quality ratings. In addition, St.Vincent Health hospitals in Indianapolis, Anderson, Carmel and Winchester all received national recognition for specialty services.

The HealthGrades 2011 Healthcare Consumerism and Hospital Quality in America report found patients treated at five-star rated hospitals experience a 73 percent lower risk of mortality, and a 63 percent lower risk of complications compared to one-star rated hospitals.

In addition to Indiana’s top award for cardiology services, the St.Vincent Heart Center was ranked number one in Indiana for coronary interventional procedures, and among the top 5 percent in the nation for overall cardiac services for seven years in a row. Also, the freestanding heart hospital earned a five-star rating for the treatment of heart failure.

St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital received America’s 100 Best Specialty Excellence Awards in coronary intervention, critical care, spine surgery and stroke care. The 130-year-old hospital was number one in Indiana for spine surgery, and also ranked within the top 5 percent in the nation for cardiology services, women’s health and emergency medicine.

St.Vincent Carmel Hospital earned national recognition for outstanding patient experience, and St.Vincent Randolph Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, was awarded a five-star rating for the treatment of bowel obstruction.

A quality comparison of doctors and hospitals in Indiana can be found online at HealthGrades.com.