Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Fortunately, you have one of the nation’s top heart centers by your side.
U.S. News & World Report recently published a list of the “50 Best Hospitals” for Heart and Heart Surgery. This list included Lancaster General Heart Center.
“My colleagues and I are honored to be ranked among the nation’s best hospitals for heart care. We hope that such formal recognition reassures our patients that they are in good hands with us,” says Jeffrey Cope, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Lancaster, who operated on Brian Shaeffer.
Lancaster General’s ranking was based largely on clinical outcomes and scope of services. Hospital volume, nursing proficiency, availability of key technologies and other measures such as Magnet Hospital designation and trauma accreditation also factored in the ranking.
“The Heart Center team performs a large volume of cardiac procedures on a yearly basis and this experience is a key element in maintaining lower complication rates for our patients,” explains Paul Casale, MD, The Heart Group, and Division Chief at Lancaster General Heart Center. “The cardiac catheterization laboratory team, in particular, does an exceptional job of treating heart attacks with angioplasty and stents, as evidenced by data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, which identified LGH in 2002 as the only hospital in the state with outcomes that were better than expected.”
Douglas Gohn, MD, The Heart Group, Medical Director of Electrophysiology, implanted Brian’s defribrillator earlier this year. He sums up the feeling of the Heart Center team: “To be recognized as an outstanding medical facility is an honor and speaks volumes about our hard-working and skilled team.”
In addition, patients have access to the latest treatments through research protocols coordinated by the Lancaster Heart Foundation and LGH research nurses. To assist in the recovery process, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department and Wellness Center staff are available to identify and support lifestyle changes to promote heart-healthy living.
To request a free Heart Center magnet, call 1-888-221-6244.
Each department within the Heart Center offers special services and skills:
Catheterization Lab
- Round-the-clock/7 day per week availability to rapidly respond to heart attack patients
- Use of advanced stent designs and stenting techniques
Electrophysiology Lab
- High volume implant center with more than 1,100 defibrillators and pacemakers implanted annually
- National training site for other physicians desiring to learn advanced techniques and procedures
- Use of latest ablation techniques for treating atrial fibrillation
- Low complication rates Non-Invasive Cardiology
- Complete echocardiograms with 3-dimensional capability
- External counterpulsation (ECP) therapy for chest pain not responsive to other therapy (only hospital in the county to offer this new Medicare-approved service)
- Holter monitor scanning at hospital and satellite locations
Open Heart Surgery