Profile
Cardiac Surgeon
Dr. Johnston has performed over 6,000 open-heart and thoracic procedures. He is the Director of Cardiothoracic Data Systems and Quality Assessment at FHS and worked in service line cost analysis/cost reduction in alignment with quality of care guidelines and outcomes.
Consultant
Successful in producing cost saving outcomes in surgical departments of hospitals, Dr. Johnson serves as a liaison between surgeons and administrations. He seeks to create efficient and effective medical processes resulting in satisfied patients.
Scientist & Inventor
Dr. Johnson was instrumental in the development of patented medical devices to determine volumetric flow rates in biological conduits using ultrasound. He has presented several scientific papers on statistical computer modeling of mortality risk in cardiac surgery patients.
Cardiac Surgeon
Gilbert Johnston, MD, is currently Medical Director (Chief of Service) Cardiac Surgery, Franciscan Health System and he is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Johnston has surgical expertise in high risk coronary revasculaization techniques, small incision mitral and aortic valve surgery; surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation; off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and experience in assessing and quantifying the risks of cardiac surgery. In addition, he is the Director of Cardiothoracic Data Systems and Quality Assessment and worked in service line cost analysis/cost reduction in alignment with quality of care guidelines and outcomes.
He has performed over 6,000 open-heart and thoracic procedures; both traditional and minimally invasive cases.
Inventor
Dr. Johnson was instrumental in the development of patented medical devices to determine volumetric flow rates in biological conduits using ultrasound. Specifically, flow directed pulmonary artery catheter to determine cardiac output using a disposable Doppler ultrasound transducer.
Dr. Johnston holds five U.S. Patents. This includes a light weight portable infant restraining device for use in aircraft and automobiles, inspired by his experience as a multiengine, instrument-rated pilot and has remote experience in aircraft accident investigation.
Dr. Johnston has been listed in the Who's Who of American Inventors.
4,637,401 Johnston, G.G.; Volumetric Flow Rate Determination in Conduits Not Directly Accessible; January 20, 1987
4,674,336 Johnston, G.G.; Method of Volumetric Flow Rate Determination in Conduits Not Directly Accessible; June 23, 1987
4,802,490 Johnston, G.G.; Catheter for Performing Volumetric Flow Rates in Vascular Conduits; February 7, 1989
5,366,271 G. Johnston, R. McAusland, et al. Folding Infant Restraint Seat, Nov 22, 1994.
5,354,220 D. Ganguly, G. Johnston, et al.; Electric Coupler for Coupling an Ultrasonic Transducer to a Catheter (And As Amended) Oct 11, 1994
Consultant
Successful in producing cost saving outcomes in surgical departments of hospitals, Dr. Johnson serves as a liaison between surgeons and administrations. He seeks to create efficient and effective medical processes resulting in satisfied patients.
Public Speaker and Presentations
Dr. Johnston has delivered several invited lectures at conferences in the United States and abroad.
Johnston, G.G. and Yamasaki, D.; Comparison of Logistic Regression and Bayesian Models for Classification of Hospital Mortality for Cardiac Surgery Patients. Society Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting, Poster Presentation, 1994
Johnston, G.G., Goss, J.R., Whitten, R.W. et al ; Variations and Outcomes Results Among Centers Performing Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) in Washington State; A Review of the Washington State Pilot Study on the Cardiac Surgery/Cardiology Outcomes Assessment Program – Present Status and Future Direction. Presented North Pacific Surgical Association 1998.
Johnston, G.G.; Malmgren, J.A.; Goss, J.R.; and Spertus, J.A .; Statewide Risk Modeling for CABG Postoperative Length of Stay and the Importance of Patient Reported Health Status: Data from the Pilot Phase of the Washington State Cardiac Outcomes Assessment Program. Presentation at American College Cardiology Annual Meeting, March 2001
Johnston, G.; Charboneau, P.; Ottow T., Johnson, S. Lactic Acid Levels Confirm Improved Systemic Perfusion in "OPCAB" Patients: Oral Presentation at International Cardiovascular Society and 3rd International Meeting of Onasis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, April 2003
Author
Dr. Johnston has contributed scientific publications and one contributory chapter to a medical/surgical textbook.
Johnston, G.G., Krisle, J.R., and Troop, R.C.; Inhibition of Adrenal Steroidgenesis by Glutethimide. Proc Soc Exp Biol and Med 129:20-23, 1968
Johnston, G.G., Marzec, U., and Bernstein, E.F.; Effects of Surface Injury and Shear Stress on Platelet Aggregation and Serotonin Release. Trans Amer Soc Artif Int Organs 21:413-20, 1975
Marzec, U., Johnston, G.G., and Bernstein, E.F.; Platelet Function in Calves: A Study of Adhesions, Aggregation, Release Clotting Factor Activity and Lifespan. Trans Amer Soc Artif Int Organs 21:581-85, 1975
Johnston, G.G., and Bernstein, E.F.; Quantitation of Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis by Ocular Plethysmography Surg Forum 26:290-9, 1975
Johnston, G.G., Hammill, F.S., Johansen, K.H., Marzec, U., Gerard, D., Dilley, R.B., and Bernstein,E.F.; Prolonged Pulsatile and Nonpulsatile LV Bypass With A Centrifugal Pump. Trans Amer Soc Artif Int Organs 22:323-29,1976
Bernstein, E.F., Marzec, U., Clayman, M.D., Swanson,S., and Johnston, G.G.; Platelet Function Following Wall Impact and Shear Stress: Adhesions, Aggregation, Release and Procoagulant Activity. Sym Ann NY Acad Sci,1976
Johnston, G.G., Hammill, F., Marzec, U., Gerard,D., Johansen, K., Diley, R.B., and Bernstein, .F.; Prolonged Pulseless Perfusion in Unanesthetized Calves. Arch surg 111:1225-30, 1976
Daily, P.O., Johnston, G.G., Simmons, C.J., and Moser, K.M.; Surgical Management of Chronic Pulmonary Embolism; Surgical Treatment and Late Results. J. Thor Cardiovas Surg 79:523-531, 1980
Knight, R.W.,Kenney, G.J.,Lewis,E.E. and Johnston, G.G; Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty. Results and Surgical Implications. Am J Surg 147 (5) 578-82 1984
Johnston, G.G., Vitikainen, K.J., Knight, R.W., Annest, L.S., Garcia, C.E.: A Changing Perspective on Gastrointestinal Complications in Cardiac Surgery. Am. J. Surg., May 1992
Goss, J. R.; Whitten, R. W.; Phillips, R. C.; Johnston, G. G.; Hofer, B. O.; Mansfield, P. B.; Tidwell, S. L.; Spertus, J. A. and LoGerfo, J. P. ; Washington State's Model of Physician Leadership in Cardiac Outcomes Reporting: Ann Thorac Surg 2000 70: 695-701.
Johnston, G.G.; Goss, J.R.; Malmgren, J.A.; and Spertus, J.A. Health Status and Social Risk Correlates of Extended Length of Stay Following Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2004;77:557-62
Goss, J.R.; Maynard, C: Aldea, G; Smith, M; Johnston, G.G. et al. Effects of a Statewide, Physician-led Quality-Improvement Program on the Quality of Cardiac Care, Am Heart J 2006;151:5 1040-49
Von Oppell, U., Segadal, L., Busund, R., Johnston, G.G., et al. Aortic Annulus Diameter as well as Valve Design Determines Valve Size Implanted, Submitted for publication JHVD 2011 November
Service
Military Service
He served in the United States Air Force where he specialized in Aerospace Medicine and served as Chief of Aeromedical Services at Williams AFB. He was awarded the Malcolm C. Grow Award for service in aerospace medicine.
Professional and Scientific Societies
Aerospace Medical Association
American Association of Advancement of Science
American College of Surgeons (Fellow)
American Heart Association
American Medical Informatics Association
American Statistical Association
Civil Aviation Medical Association
New York Academy of Sciences
North Pacific Surgical Society
Society for Cardiovascular Anesthesiology
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Society of USAF Flight Surgeons
Western Thoracic Surgical Association
CV