Points of Distinction

Here is why many patients choose our Heart Center :

• The largest pediatric heart team in the region that includes cardiac intensivists; cardiothoracic surgeons; cardiologists; cardiac interventionalists; electrophysiologists; cardiac anesthesiologists; and 86 dedicated clinical staff.
• A collaborative approach to care involving physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, dieticians, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, pharmacist, respiratory therapist, social workers, child life therapist- all with specific education and clinical expertise in caring for heart patients .
• An active and experienced ECMO team, with 36 pump cases to date in 2011.
• A Dedicated inpatient home that includes a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) a 26-bed Progressive Care Unit; Two biplane cardiac catheterization / Electrophysiology laboratories; Labs; Cardiac Cath Recovery Unit; and a CT scanner; all on the same floor.
• Dedicated cardiac surgical operating room for heart patient
• Unparalled heart failure and transplant program…the region’s largest, having performed over 350 heart transplants in children with a 91% one year survival rate.
• Cardiac diagnostic and interventional catheterization labs
• Electrophysiology lab with 3D imaging capability and intracardiac echocardiography, performing radiofrequency and cryoablation, as well as pacemaker and defibrillator implantation
• Capability of performing hybrid procedures with 7 years experience
• Heart Station Testing Center (echocardiography; electrocardiogram; Holter Monitor/Event Recorder; exercise testing)
• State-of-the-Art Imaging Center with direct link to operating room
• Adult congenital heart program to help children transition to adult care.
• Fetal Heart Center for expectant mothers when the fetus is diagnosed with congenital heart disease.
• Preventive cardiology clinic that educates and counsels families of children with heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure
• Innovative care- our surgeons performed the first ABO-incompatible pediatric heart transplant. Very few of these rare surgeries have been performed around the world.
• Our clinicians are internationally recognized leaders in scientific studies from exploring the abnormal development of an infant’s cardiovascular system to a multi center clinical trial that tested implantation of a device to correct heart abnormalities.