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The New York Methodist-Cornell Heart Center also initiatedcardiac resynchronization therapy, which is designed tocorrect ventricular dyssynchrony—an abnormality in theheart that causes its two lower chambers to stop beatingsimultaneously, making the heart less efficient. Like apacemaker, a cardiac resynchronization device sends tinyelectrical pulses via soft insulated wires to the lowerchambers of the heart to synchronize the contractionsof the ventricles. The device also improves the heart’sability to pump blood and oxygen throughout the body.Additionally, the New York Methodist-Cornell HeartCenter is now performing “real time” stress MRI testing,a new feature of cardiac MRI, which offers physiciansan alternative for diagnosing coronary artery disease inpatients who are unable to exercise because of healthreasons. Stress tests provide doctors with informationabout how well the heart performs under physical stress.NYM is the only hospital in Brooklyn performing the test.The Department of Radiology began offering cryoablationand radiofrequency ablation (RFA), two minimally invasivetreatments for cancer. Cryoablation involves freezinga tumor through the placement of probes that generatean “ice ball” around the cancerous tissue. RFA useselectrodes to transmit radiofrequency energy from thetip of a needle, where it produces heat in the tissues.Recognizing that a multidisciplinary approach tocombating obesity is the most effective way to deal withthe complexities of weight loss management, New YorkMethodist Hospital, initiated a physician supervisedComprehensive Weight Management Program. “Theprogram aims to tackle obesity and weight managementthrough a partnership between patients, their familiesand our health care team,” said Alfred Leong, M.D., theprogram’s medical director. In addition, the program offersbariatric surgery, which has been proven to be the mosteffective way to achieve and maintain significant weightloss, is an option for patients who are deemed morbidlyobese. New York Methodist Hospital has been accreditedas a Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery.called balloon sinuplasty—uses a guidewire and catheter tothread a tiny, flexible balloon through the sinus cavitiesto the site of the obstruction. The balloon is then inflatedwhich widens the sinus and clears the blockage.NYM’s Division of Urology acquired a new high-poweredgreen light laser that can be used to treat benign prostatichyperplasia (BPH). The green light laser uses a speciallydesigned light source and fiber optic delivery system toimmediately and gently vaporize the enlarged prostate tissue.Awards and RecognitionFor the fourth year in a row, the National ResearchCorporation named NYM a Consumer’s Choice AwardWinner for “Best Doctors, Best Nurses, Best OverallQuality and Best Image Reputation,” as determined byconsumers in the borough of Brooklyn.The American Stroke Association recently named NewYork Methodist Hospital a Get-With-The-Guidelines-Stroke(GWTG Stroke) Silver Performance Achievement Award winner.NYM was designated a UnitedHealth Premium Total JointReplacement Specialty Center in recognition of its totaljoint replacement surgery program.The Hospital won a 2008 Regional Commuter ChoiceInnovator Award for providing commuter benefit programsthat encourage employees to make use of environmentallyfriendly alternatives like carpooling, vanpooling and masstransit instead of single occupancy vehicles.The Division of Otolaryngology at NYM introduced anew surgical procedure that alleviates the pain of sinusitisby clearing blockages in the sinus, allowing the sinus todrain bacteria that can cause infections. The procedure—innovation