Health Care

Heart Failure

The Decline of a Historic Transplant Program

ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle are investigating troubles at Baylor St. Luke’s in Houston, an illustrious heart program that has recently had some of the worst outcomes in the country.

Impact of Our Reporting

Heart Failure

St. Luke’s to Suspend Heart Transplants After Recent Deaths

The move comes two weeks after ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle reported on pervasive problems in the historic heart program.

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, June 1, 2018, 4:15 p.m. EDT

Texas Appeals Court Throws Out Defamation Lawsuit Against ProPublica, Houston Chronicle

by Jeremy Schwartz,

April 25, 6 p.m. EDT

Blistering Report Details Serious Safety Lapses at St. Luke’s in Houston

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

May 17, 2019, 5:40 p.m. EDT

Numerous Mistakes Led to Fatal Blood Transfusion at St. Luke’s in Houston, Report Finds

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Feb. 26, 2019, 6:15 p.m. EST

Two New Lawsuits Allege Surgical Errors During Heart Transplants at St. Luke’s in Houston

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Jan. 16, 2019, 2 p.m. EST

St. Luke’s in Houston Replaces Its President, Other Top Leaders After Series of Care Lapses, Recent Deadly Error

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Jan. 14, 2019, 7:40 p.m. EST

An Unsigned Letter Alleged Mistakes During Heart Transplants at St. Luke’s. Now a Widow Is Suing.

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Dec. 14, 2018, 6 a.m. EST

As St. Luke’s Heart Program Faltered, Deaths After Liver and Lung Transplants Also Ticked Upward

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Nov. 30, 2018, 6 a.m. EST

As Houston Methodist’s Lung Program Grew, So Did Its Rate of Failed Transplants

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

Nov. 30, 2018, 6 a.m. EST

Federal Inspectors Cite St. Luke’s in Houston for Problems in a Heart Transplant

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

Oct. 31, 2018, 6 a.m. EDT

St. Luke’s in Houston Replaces Heart Transplant Surgical Director After Program Loses Medicare Funding

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Oct. 19, 2018, 12:45 p.m. EDT

“They’ve Got to Execute You”: St. Luke’s Doctor Faces Discipline After Raising Patient Care Concerns

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Oct. 11, 2018, 12 p.m. EDT

Trump Administration Proposes Weakening Rules Governing Organ Transplant Centers

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Sept. 21, 2018, 3 p.m. EDT

Heart Surgery “Legend” a Factor in Transplant Deaths, a St. Luke’s Colleague Told Inspector

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Sept. 7, 2018, 2:30 p.m. EDT

Prominent Houston Judge Quits St. Luke’s Board After Heart Transplant Troubles Revealed

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Sept. 4, 2018, 6 a.m. EDT

St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program to Lose Medicare Funding Today

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

Aug. 17, 2018, 6 a.m. EDT

Famed Houston Surgeon Updates Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

Aug. 10, 2018, 6 a.m. EDT

For Most Common Heart Surgery, St. Luke’s Has Been Among the Nation’s Worst

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

Aug. 3, 2018, 1:31 p.m. EDT

Prominent Texas Surgeon Sues ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle

by Ryan Gabrielson,

July 10, 2018, 7 p.m. EDT

He Went In for a Heart Transplant. He Suffered Severe Brain Damage. Now His Family Is Suing St. Luke’s.

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

July 5, 2018, 12 p.m. EDT

Supporters of a Famed Houston Surgeon Have Alleged Inaccuracies in Our Investigation. Here’s Our Response

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

June 29, 2018, 6 a.m. EDT

Medicare to Terminate Funding for St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program in Houston

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

June 22, 2018, 6 p.m. EDT

After Two-Week Review, St. Luke’s in Houston Reopens Its Heart Transplant Program

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

June 15, 2018, 1:10 p.m. EDT

Patients Wait in Limbo as St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program Reviews Its Problems

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

June 13, 2018, 5 a.m. EDT

A Pioneering Heart Surgeon’s Secret History of Research Violations, Conflicts of Interest and Poor Outcomes

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

May 24, 2018, 6 a.m. EDT

Here’s How ProPublica Analyzed Bud Frazier’s Medicare Outcomes

by Hannah Fresques, Olga Pierce and Charles Ornstein,

May 24, 2018, 5:59 a.m. EDT

A Death in Slow Motion

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

May 22, 2018, 6 a.m. EDT

At St. Luke’s in Houston, Patients Suffer as a Renowned Heart Transplant Program Loses Its Luster

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle,

May 16, 2018, 6 a.m. EDT

As Wait for New Heart Got Longer, Patient Grew Sicker

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

May 16, 2018, 5:59 a.m. EDT

Help Us Investigate Care at the Texas Medical Center

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica,

May 16, 2018, 5:59 a.m. EDT

Broken Hearts

by Katie Campbell,

May 6, 2018, 12 a.m. EDT

Impact of Our Reporting Caret

Impact of Our Reporting