Success of Primary Angioplasty Program Leads to Comprehensive, Independent Cardiology Services at Holy Family Hospital

Monday, December 14, 2009

Success of Primary Angioplasty Program Leads to Comprehensive,
Independent Cardiology Services at Holy Family Hospital

24/7 cardiac care offered by trusted physicians and staff, as 7 out of 10 of the hospital’s Core Measures for heart care reach 100%.

December 14, 2009 - Methuen, Mass. –– Holy Family Hospital today announced it is expanding its successful cardiology services program to provide round-the-clock care to the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire. A full array of services and procedures will be available, including an independent, state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, and 24/7 primary (emergency) angioplasty for heart attack victims. Holy Family is also home to the area’s only Cardiac Rehabilitation program, certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).

Primary angioplasty is an emergency intervention to open the blocked arteries of heart attack victims.  The service will now be available at Holy Family Hospital 24/7 with coverage by two full-time interventional cardiologists: Sunit Mukherjee, MD, Director of Interventional Cardiology at Holy Family Hospital, and Seth Bilazarian, MD.  In addition, a bilingual, bicultural interventional and peripheral cardiologist is expected to join the team early next year. Holy Family Hospital also intends to apply to the State to perform elective angioplasty, a similar procedure performed on a non-emergent basis.

Primary angioplasty and the Cardiac Catheterization Lab have been joint programs between Holy Family and Lawrence General Hospitals. The large number of patients in need of heart care, coupled with the program’s excellent clinical outcomes, has led each hospital to provide these services independently, effective January 18, 2010.  The vast majority of the staff have chosen to remain with Holy Family, so current patients and referring physicians will enjoy continuity of care from expert caregivers they have come to trust.

For patients in need of more advanced heart care, Holy Family’s relationship with sister hospital St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston gives patients access to one of the country’s Top 100 Hospitals for cardiovascular services. 
“Hospitalizations for cardiovascular and circulatory diseases in our area is more than 10 percent above the State average. As the community need for cardiac care has grown significantly, so have Holy Family’s capabilities and expertise at performing life-saving procedures,” said Dr. Mukherjee. “We believe operating a fully independent Cardiac Cath Lab and angioplasty program 24/7 at Holy Family will further enhance our skills and experience, helping to save lives and improve the health of our community.”

“Holy Family’s focus and expertise in heart care is evident by our results,” said Lester Schindel, President and CEO of Holy Family Hospital.  “Our physicians and staff are saving and improving lives every single day, and our recent performance on the State’s Core Measures for heart care are all at or approaching 100 percent. We are extremely proud to offer our community such quality, compassionate care available day or night, so close to home.” 

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About Holy Family Hospital
Holy Family Hospital is a 271-bed, not-for-profit Catholic hospital serving some 450,000 people in 20 communities throughout the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire, including Methuen, Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, Haverhill and Salem, NH. Holy Family is fully accredited and has proudly received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission, the world leader in evaluating the quality and safety of patient care. For more information about the hospital's programs and services visit www.CaritasHolyFamily.org.

Media Contact:
Anna Frankenfield
Communications Manager
Anna.frankenfield@caritaschristi.org
(978) 687-0156 ext. 2659