This database was last updated in July 2015 and is based on data from 2009 to 2013. It should only be used as a historical snapshot.
MEMORIAL HERMANN HOSPITAL SYSTEM
- 1635 NORTH LOOP WEST, HOUSTON, TEXAS, 77008, PHONE: 713-448-6796
How Surgeons at This Hospital Perform, by Procedure
An individual surgeon who performs this procedure at this hospital.
At least one surgeon performing this procedure has a high adjusted rate of complications.
How to Read a Surgeon's Chart
Hover over each word for details
How we calculated these rates: Guided by top researchers and doctors, ProPublica used Medicare data from 2009-2013 to identify cases where a patient died in the hospital or had to be readmitted within 30 days for a problem related to one of these elective procedures. We then calculated complication rates for surgeons, carefully accounting for differences in patient health, age and hospital quality. These rates are calculated using data from Medicare records, which do not include patients with private insurance or in another program like Medicaid. A surgeon’s rate spans all hospitals at which he or she operates and is not unique to a given hospital. Read our methodology »
Important: Some surgeons may no longer be operating at this hospital.
Hover over underlined items to see details.
Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement (ICD-9-CM code 81.54)
Replace diseased knee joint with an artificial knee. The most common reason for a knee replacement is osteoarthritis, which is a breakdown of the cartilage in the joint. More information 
W JONES »
KELLY BLEVINS »
KEITH SCHAUDER »
CLAY FISHER »
MICHAEL MONMOUTH »
JAMES KENDRICK »
STUART WETZEL »
RICHARD NIXON »
EDDIE MATSU »
DEREK JONES »
DAVID VANDERWEIDE »
DAVID NAVID »
CARL HICKS »
EUGENE HEIMAN »
ROBERT BURKE »
WAYNE ALANI »
LAURA TORRES-BARRE »
ERIC PRICE »
THOMAS PARR »
ROBERT LAUNIKITIS »
BRIAN CHIMENTI »
ADAM KLEIN »
ROSEMARY BUCKLE »
MICHAEL MAIER »
JAMES MATHIS »
BRIAN SEABOLT »
HENRY BLUM »
VICTOR PHAN »
ALLEN CRISWELL »
ERIC BERKMAN »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
RICHARD LARREY, JORGE ANGEL, KENNETH BROOKS, CLINT JOHNSON, MARK VANN, JASON BRANNEN, CAMILLE GEORGE, KEITH FLAK, JASON PIEFER, ARNOLD VALENSON, MARSHALL FRUMIN, NEVILLE FLOWERS, WADE MCALISTER, MEENA SHATBY
Hospital Misattributions:
This hospital also billed Medicare for fewer than 11 cases of this procedure that were attributed to non-surgeons. Because the surgeon’s identity is uncertain, we do not report them. Of these cases, 0 resulted in complications.
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Hip Replacement
Total hip replacement (ICD-9-CM code 81.51)
Replace diseased hip joint with an artificial hip joint. The most common reason for a hip replacement is osteoarthritis, which is a breakdown of the cartilage in the joint. More information
KELLY BLEVINS »
DEREK JONES »
RICHARD NIXON »
THOMAS PARR »
BRIAN CHIMENTI »
JAMES MATHIS »
ADAM KLEIN »
MICHAEL MONMOUTH »
WAYNE ALANI »
EDDIE MATSU »
ROSEMARY BUCKLE »
ROBERT BURKE »
CARL HICKS »
BRIAN SEABOLT »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
KENNETH BROOKS, VICTOR PHAN, CLINT JOHNSON, CLAY FISHER, W JONES, STUART WETZEL, LAURA TORRES-BARRE, JASON BRANNEN, JAMES KENDRICK, CAMILLE GEORGE, HENRY SMALL, JASON PIEFER, MICHAEL MAIER, MARSHALL FRUMIN, DAVID NAVID
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Gallbladder Removal, Laparoscopic
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ICD-9-CM code 51.23)
Minimally invasive gallbladder removal. This is performed most commonly when gallstones are blocking the flow of bile. More information
BLAIR JORDAN »
RONNIE ADAMS »
PETAR TURCINOVIC »
MICHAEL MAYS »
GLEN GARNER »
JAMES FIELD »
ANIBAL HADAD »
JAMES MAGGART »
DEXTER TURNQUEST »
DAVID GELBER »
EDUARDO WOLFFE »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
PENNI RUSSO-GOING, FERNANDO MIRANDA, AQUILEO HERNANDEZ, ZIAD AMR, TAMMY LEE, JASON BALETTE, DREW HOWARD, WILLIAM RATLIFF, MICHAEL STOREY, CHRISTOPHE SALCEDO, JOHN FISHER, GEORGE PETERKIN III, ESEROGHENE OTAH, KHOA NGUYEN, SHEILENDRA MEHTA, ALAN HUBBARD, HOANG LE, JORGE LEIVA, THOMAS MOORE, MAHSA MOSSADEGH, SURYAM KODALI, KENNETH HOLLIS, MICHAEL WOOD, GERMAN BERBEL
The following surgeons also perform procedures at a hospital that has misattributed surgeons’ identities, so we are not reporting their results:
GUILLERMO PONCE DE LEON, CHARLES ARAMBURO, S. AYYAR, MICHAEL KLEINMAN
Hospital Misattributions:
This hospital also billed Medicare for fewer than 11 cases of this procedure that were attributed to non-surgeons. Because the surgeon’s identity is uncertain, we do not report them. Of these cases, 0 resulted in complications.
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Lumbar Spinal Fusion, Posterior Column and Approach
Fusing two or more vertebrae in the lower back; performed on the back of the spine, incision in the back (ICD-9-CM code 81.07)
The fusing of two or more vertebrae in the lower back, performed on the back portion of the spine. One of the most common reasons is the narrowing of the space between the vertebrae, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain. It can also be done because of disc degeneration or a condition where one bone in the back slides forward over the bone below it. More information
MICHAEL LEAHY »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
JAMES BONNEN, AJAY BINDAL, NORMAN TORRES, VICTOR KAREH, JUAN ORTEGA-BARNETT, GEOFFREY ZUBAY, IMRAN FAYAZ, PETER YEH, BONAVENTURE NGU, THOMAS JONES
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Lumbar Spinal Fusion, Anterior Column, Posterior Approach
Fusing two or more vertebrae in the lower back; performed on the front of the spine, incision in the back (ICD-9-CM code 81.08)
The fusing of two or more vertebrae in the lower back, performed on the front portion of the spine. One of the most common reasons is the narrowing of the space between the vertebrae, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain. It can also be done because of disc degeneration or a condition where one bone in the back slides forward over the bone below it. More information
BONAVENTURE NGU »
PETER SHEDDEN »
MICHAEL LEAHY »
PAUL BOONE »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
ANTHONY MUFFOLETTO, NORMAN TORRES, VICTOR KAREH, JUAN ORTEGA-BARNETT, GEOFFREY ZUBAY, SCOTT SHEPARD, IMRAN FAYAZ, PETER YEH, THOMAS JONES, RAUL CARDENAS, JAMES KENDRICK, JAMES GRAHAM, AJAY BINDAL
The following surgeons also perform procedures at a hospital that has misattributed surgeons’ identities, so we are not reporting their results:
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Prostate Removal
Radical prostatectomy (ICD-9-CM code 60.5)
The removal of the entire prostate gland via the open or laparoscopic or robotic method. Usually performed to treat prostate cancer. More information
HENRY PHAM »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
KEVIN NICKELL, JOHN GIANNAKIS, CARL OGLETREE, MATTHEW HOGGATT, NED STEIN, LAWRENCE BAUM, RICHARD KIM, JOHN PAPADOPOULOS, ZVI SCHIFFMAN, STEVEN MAISLOS, DREW DYLEWSKI, RAMARAO DENDULURI
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Prostate Resection
Other transurethral prostatectomy (ICD-9-CM code 60.29)
The resection and removal of a portion of the prostate through the urethra. This is most commonly done because of an enlarged prostate that may be restricting the flow of urine. More information
STEVEN MAISLOS »
ZVI SCHIFFMAN »
ROBERT MCDONALD »
KEVIN NICKELL »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
PETER HINH, JOHN GIANNAKIS, SAMUEL AXELRAD, AJAY KWATRA, PAUL KENWORTHY, RONALD HENRY, PATRICK ZIELIE, NED STEIN, LAWRENCE BAUM, RICHARD KIM, MATTHEW HOGAN, LILIANA WOO, ALAN HANANEL, CLYDE COREY, DREW DYLEWSKI, RAMARAO DENDULURI, PAOLO CHAMPION, OMAR DURRANI
Hospital Misattributions:
This hospital also billed Medicare for fewer than 11 cases of this procedure that were attributed to non-surgeons. Because the surgeon’s identity is uncertain, we do not report them. Of these cases, fewer than 11 resulted in complications.
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Cervical (Neck) Spinal Fusion
Other cervical fusion of the anterior column, anterior technique (ICD-9-CM code 81.02)
The fusing of two or more vertebrae of the neck, using orthopedic devices to hold them in place. Age-related breakdown or displacement of the spinal discs in the neck. More information
AJAY BINDAL »
DAVID MACDOUGALL »
PETER SHEDDEN »
MICHAEL LEAHY »
GEOFFREY ZUBAY »
BONAVENTURE NGU »
The following surgeons perform this procedure less than 20 times in Medicare, lower than our threshold for display:
JAMES BONNEN, NORMAN TORRES, JEREMY WANG, JOHN BERRY, JUAN ORTEGA-BARNETT, SCOTT SHEPARD, IMRAN FAYAZ, PETER YEH, THOMAS JONES, QUOC-ANH THAI, JAMES KENDRICK, JAMES GRAHAM, MOHAMMAD ETMINAN
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