IN BRIEF

-- Noaki Schwartz

Hoag Heart Institute has been voted the 1999 Consumer Choice Heart Care

Services for Orange County in a survey conducted by an independent health

care firm.

“This award reflects the expertise and dedication of Hoag’s physicians,

nurses and entire health-care team,” said Steve Moreau, senior vice

president of Hoag Hospital.

The National Research Corporation surveyed more than 170,000 households

and evaluated 2,500 hospitals nationwide. The study, which was the

nation’s largest and most comprehensive, measured quality and customer

service.

Hoag was the only hospital in Orange County -- and only one of 124

hospitals in the country -- to receive the award. This put the Heart

Institute in the top 10% of U.S. hospitals for coronary bypass surgery.

Hoag performs nearly 1,200 cardiac surgeries a year, more than any other

hospital in the county. The hospital has 34 cardiologists on staff and a

cardiac surgery team.

In addition to this award, Hoag also earned a five-star rating from

another independent performance group.