image: University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute
Credit: UH
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute is expanding advanced cardiac care and vascular services in the region through the addition of a structural heart program and new cardiac catheterization laboratory at UH Lake West Medical Center.
The cath lab is a specialized area in a hospital where doctors perform minimally invasive tests, cardiac and vascular procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular issues. UH continues to invest in community hospitals to improve patients’ quality of care through a wider range of services.
“University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute has identified UH Lake West as a center of excellence,” said Mehdi Shishehbor, DO, MPH, PhD, President, University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, and Angela and James Hambrick Chair in Innovation. “Our highly skilled caregivers allow you to stay close to home while receiving the best cardiac and vascular care possible.”
Interventional cardiologist Justin Dunn, MD, MPH, is the new Regional Director of the Valve & Structural Heart Disease Center at UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and oversees the program at UH Lake West.
“We get you back on your feet, and back to your family quicker, through minimally invasive techniques with a focus on providing excellent patient care and satisfaction,” said Dr. Dunn. “We’re happy to announce this is happening right in your community.”
The expanded scope of minimally invasive patient services includes transcatheter aortic valve replacement, (TAVR). It’s used to treat aortic stenosis or narrowed valves with restricted blood flow, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery. Patients can also now undergo left atrial appendage occlusion to treat atrial fibrillation.
Another alternative to open heart surgery now at UH Lake West Medical Center includes percutaneous mitral valve repair, a catheter-based procedure to stop blood leaking from the heart. In addition to a PFO (percutaneous patent foramen ovale) closure procedure designed to lessen the risk of reoccurring stroke.
UH Lake West now has increased capacity for peripheral, coronary and electrophysiology procedures geared towards monitoring and treating the heart’s electrical activity, allowing providers to more effectively treat patients with pacemakers on site.
“We are excited to see the continued investment at UH Lake West Medical Center,” said Robyn Strosaker, MD, Market President and Chief Operating Officer, UH Lake Health Medical Centers. “Here, patients will find the same level of experience and state-of-the-art equipment as they find at UH Cleveland Medical Center – in the convenience of a community hospital setting. It’s the UH difference, we bring the best to you.”
The cath lab features some of the newest equipment available, allowing improved diagnostic imaging for coronary, structural, and peripheral procedures. These enhancements allow caregivers to detect arterial blockages and better deliver treatment options. The equipment also improves safety, reducing radiation exposure for both patients, and staff while strengthening the patient experience in a clean and bright environment.
A focus on strengthening the patient experience continues at UH Lake West with construction of a hybrid operating room scheduled for completion later this year.
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About University Hospitals / Cleveland, Ohio
Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of more than 20 hospitals (including five joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system’s flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Oxford University, Taiwan National University College of Medicine and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. The main campus also includes the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, with more than 3,000 active clinical trials and research studies underway. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national ranking surveys, including “America’s Best Hospitals” from U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit UHhospitals.org.