First Open Heart Surgery Performed in Belize - Heineman ...
First Open Heart Surgery Performed in Belize - Heineman ...
First Open Heart Surgery Performed in Belize - Heineman ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Heart</strong> <strong>Surgery</strong> <strong>Performed</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong> | Scrubs & Suits<br />
http://scrubsandsuits.com/news/first-open-heart-surgery-performed-<strong>in</strong>-belize<br />
1 of 4 8/3/2012 4:30 PM<br />
Want to get the word out about your organization Advertise with Scrubs & Suits! Click here for details.<br />
Log <strong>in</strong> | Sign up<br />
Industry News (/categories/<strong>in</strong>dustry-news)<br />
(/news/first-open-heartsurgery-performed-<strong>in</strong>-belize)<br />
By S&S Adm<strong>in</strong> (/contributors) Posted July 17, 2012 09:00<br />
0 Comments (http://scrubsandsuits.com/news/first-open-heart-surgery-performed-<strong>in</strong>-belize#disqus_thread)<br />
Like 0<br />
(#)<br />
Tweet 0<br />
(#) (#)<br />
CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- On Monday, physicians from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong><br />
City, <strong>Belize</strong>, and from Carol<strong>in</strong>as HealthCare System (CHS) performed the first open heart surgery <strong>in</strong> the country of <strong>Belize</strong>.<br />
Adrian Coye, MD, Medical Services Director at KHMH and R. Mark Stiegel, MD, FACS, cardiothoracic surgeon with CHS's Sanger <strong>Heart</strong> & Vascular<br />
Institute (SHVI) performed a coronary artery bypass graft on a 72-year-old <strong>Belize</strong>an man. The patient is recover<strong>in</strong>g at the hospital, where he will be<br />
monitored for at least three days post-surgery. Today the surgeons will perform a mitral valve replacement on a 56-year-old <strong>Belize</strong>an woman, complet<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
second heart surgery.<br />
"This is a very special moment that has allowed everyone <strong>in</strong>volved to make history <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong>," said Dr. Coye. "<strong>Belize</strong>an patients should receive the same level<br />
of care as others worldwide, and we are thrilled to have reached this po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> what we can offer for medical services <strong>in</strong> our country."
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Heart</strong> <strong>Surgery</strong> <strong>Performed</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong> | Scrubs & Suits<br />
http://scrubsandsuits.com/news/first-open-heart-surgery-performed-<strong>in</strong>-belize<br />
2 of 4 8/3/2012 4:30 PM<br />
Although heart disease is the second lead<strong>in</strong>g cause of death <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong>, the country lacked a modern cardiovascular diagnostic and <strong>in</strong>terventional facility up<br />
until 2011, when CHS's International Medical Outreach (IMO) Program began provid<strong>in</strong>g support. Before that time, patients would either not receive<br />
treatment or would travel to neighbor<strong>in</strong>g countries for cardiac services. Today, due to ongo<strong>in</strong>g support from the IMO Program, KHMH has the equipment and<br />
medical expertise necessary to diagnose and treat patients with heart ailments <strong>in</strong> the country.<br />
"This is an excit<strong>in</strong>g time for the people of <strong>Belize</strong>, and we hope this achievement paves the way for future improvements <strong>in</strong> the country's healthcare services,"<br />
said Francis Robicsek, MD, PhD, founder and vice president of the IMO Program, a partnership between CHS and the He<strong>in</strong>eman Foundation of Charlotte<br />
(He<strong>in</strong>eman). "In collaboration with SHVI, we will cont<strong>in</strong>ue our support to KHMH and emerg<strong>in</strong>g cardiology program to provide susta<strong>in</strong>able cardiac care <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Belize</strong>."<br />
The IMO Program donated and <strong>in</strong>stalled the country's first fully-equipped cardiac catheterization laboratory <strong>in</strong> February 2011 at KHMH, one of only two<br />
major hospitals <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong>. The laboratory, also equipped with diagnostic imag<strong>in</strong>g equipment, modernized cardiac care by 30 years.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce October 2011, the IMO Program has sent cardiology teams from SHVI to perform catheterizations <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong> each month and will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to send teams<br />
until the <strong>in</strong>terventional cardiologist at KHMH is tra<strong>in</strong>ed to perform catheterizations alone. The procedures performed <strong>in</strong> the laboratory have helped identify<br />
several patients <strong>in</strong> need of open heart surgery.<br />
"We are proud and privileged to support our colleagues <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong> and to help them offer advanced cardiovascular services for the benefit of their citizens,"<br />
said Michael Tarwater, Chief Executive Officer of CHS. "Our <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> this momentous accomplishment is an outcome of CHS's commitment to<br />
healthcare <strong>in</strong>novation and its quality cardiology programs through SHVI. We look forward to cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g our collaboration globally."<br />
The open heart surgery program at SHVI was ranked <strong>in</strong> the top 15 percent <strong>in</strong> the United States for coronary artery bypass graft and received a three out of<br />
three star rat<strong>in</strong>g by The Society for Thoracic Surgeons from July 2010 to June 2011.<br />
The IMO Program also helped make possible the first heart transplant surgery <strong>in</strong> Costa Rica <strong>in</strong> 2007, and it co-founded the largest, most comprehensive heart<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitute <strong>in</strong> Central America, located <strong>in</strong> Guatemala City, <strong>in</strong> 1984. The <strong>in</strong>stitute was established nearly a decade after the Program assisted with the first five<br />
open heart surgeries <strong>in</strong> Guatemala.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce the 1960s, the IMO Program has donated a variety of medical equipment to hospitals and cl<strong>in</strong>ics worldwide, and it has facilitated free educational<br />
opportunities for medical personnel from facilities globally. Dr. Coye and other medical staff at KHMH have benefited from educational experiences at CHS's<br />
largest hospital, Carol<strong>in</strong>as Medical Center, <strong>in</strong> Charlotte.<br />
"This is a milestone <strong>in</strong> the history of KHMH and of medic<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong>," said Gary Longsworth, MD, Chief Executive Officer of KHMH. "The procedures<br />
prove what can be done when you have a committed and determ<strong>in</strong>ed team, as well as wonderful cooperation from organizations like CHS and He<strong>in</strong>eman."<br />
Carol<strong>in</strong>as HealthCare System ( www.carol<strong>in</strong>ashealthcare.org ), one of the nation's lead<strong>in</strong>g and most <strong>in</strong>novative healthcare organizations, provides a full<br />
spectrum of healthcare and wellness programs throughout North and South Carol<strong>in</strong>a. Its diverse network of more than 650 care locations <strong>in</strong>cludes academic<br />
medical centers, hospitals, healthcare pavilions, physician practices, dest<strong>in</strong>ation centers, surgical and rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, nurs<strong>in</strong>g<br />
homes and hospice and palliative care. Carol<strong>in</strong>as HealthCare System works to improve and enhance the overall health and wellbe<strong>in</strong>g of its communities<br />
through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and <strong>in</strong>itiatives.Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (<br />
www.khmh.bz ), located <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong> City, <strong>Belize</strong>, is the country's flagship hospital, provid<strong>in</strong>g tertiary care for the nation and serv<strong>in</strong>g as the secondary care<br />
hospital for the Central Health Region. Founded <strong>in</strong> 1820, the hospital orig<strong>in</strong>ally was called the Old <strong>Belize</strong> City Hospital and was renamed <strong>in</strong> 1995 <strong>in</strong> honor of<br />
Dr. Karl Heusner, a <strong>Belize</strong> native known throughout Lat<strong>in</strong> America and the Caribbean for his expertise <strong>in</strong> tropical diseases. Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital<br />
was formally <strong>in</strong>corporated as a statutory authority by way of the KHMH Act of 2000, which elected it as the country's national referral hospital.<br />
SOURCE Carol<strong>in</strong>as HealthCare System<br />
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved<br />
Like<br />
(#)<br />
Add New Comment<br />
Log<strong>in</strong> (#)<br />
Show<strong>in</strong>g 0 comments<br />
M Subscribe by email (#) S RSS (http://scrubsnsuits.disqus.com/first_open_heart_surgery_performed_<strong>in</strong>_belize/latest.rss)<br />
blog comments powered by DISQUS (http://disqus.com)<br />
SEARCH NEWS
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Heart</strong> <strong>Surgery</strong> <strong>Performed</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong> | Scrubs & Suits<br />
http://scrubsandsuits.com/news/first-open-heart-surgery-performed-<strong>in</strong>-belize<br />
*We will not spam your <strong>in</strong>box or share your <strong>in</strong>fo with third parties.<br />
Free Onl<strong>in</strong>e EMR Platform<br />
Practice Fusion® e-Medical Records. #1 EMR <strong>in</strong><br />
Customer Satisfaction.<br />
practicefusion.com<br />
CMC-Waxhaw ER<br />
Reserve your place <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e and be seen on arrival. It's<br />
free.<br />
www.carol<strong>in</strong>ashealthcare.org/ERx<br />
Medical Supplies<br />
Call Or Visit Us Today And Pick Up All Of Your Medical<br />
Supplies.<br />
www.CannonPharmacy.com<br />
Healthcare<br />
For Infant, Children's & Adolescent Healthcare<br />
Services, Call Us Today!<br />
SnitzPediatrics.com<br />
Tech/IT (/categories/techit)<br />
Mak<strong>in</strong>g the Case for Social Media Market<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Healthcare (/news/mak<strong>in</strong>g-the-case-for-social-media-market<strong>in</strong>g-<strong>in</strong>-healthcare)<br />
27 Comments (/news/mak<strong>in</strong>g-the-case-for-social-media-market<strong>in</strong>g-<strong>in</strong>-healthcare#disqus_thread)<br />
Bill<strong>in</strong>g & Cod<strong>in</strong>g (/categories/bill<strong>in</strong>g-cod<strong>in</strong>g)<br />
Bill<strong>in</strong>g & Cod<strong>in</strong>g Guidel<strong>in</strong>es: On Modifier 25 (/news/bill<strong>in</strong>g-cod<strong>in</strong>g-guidel<strong>in</strong>es-on-modifier-25)<br />
1 Comment (/news/bill<strong>in</strong>g-cod<strong>in</strong>g-guidel<strong>in</strong>es-on-modifier-25#disqus_thread)<br />
Industry News (/categories/<strong>in</strong>dustry-news)<br />
Get Healthcare Job <strong>Open</strong><strong>in</strong>gs Delivered Weekly to Your In Box (/news/get-healthcare-job-open<strong>in</strong>gs-delivered-weekly-to-your-<strong>in</strong>-box)<br />
4 Comments (/news/get-healthcare-job-open<strong>in</strong>gs-delivered-weekly-to-your-<strong>in</strong>-box#disqus_thread)<br />
3 of 4 8/3/2012 4:30 PM
<strong>First</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Heart</strong> <strong>Surgery</strong> <strong>Performed</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Belize</strong> | Scrubs & Suits<br />
http://scrubsandsuits.com/news/first-open-heart-surgery-performed-<strong>in</strong>-belize<br />
4 of 4 8/3/2012 4:30 PM<br />
GET TO KNOW US<br />
About | Contributors | Contact | Submission Guidel<strong>in</strong>es | Advertise with us<br />
Copyright Scrubs & Suits, 2012
Change language