Tag: Healthcare

(Wilmington, DE) – ChristianaCare’s renowned Center for Heart & Vascular Health has earned the highest quality rating—three stars—from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures.

The prestigious three-star rating places ChristianaCare among the elite health care organizations for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada.

The STS star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs across the United States and Canada. The star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures for specific procedures performed by an STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database participant.

“Earning a three-star rating for heart bypass surgery places us among the top heart hospitals in the nation,” said Ray Blackwell, M.D., the W. Samuel Carpenter Chief of Cardiac Surgery at ChristianaCare. “Delaware residents can be confident that they have one of the best heart surgery teams in the nation right here, close to home, at ChristianaCare.”

The three-star rating from STS adds to ChristianaCare’s long list of awards for quality heart care. For the past two years, the Center for Heart & Vascular Health has earned the designation HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence from the American College of Cardiology for its commitment to high-quality cardiovascular care. In addition, the Center for Heart & Vascular health received the American Heart Association’s 2021 Mission: Lifeline Gold Quality Achievement Award for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks; the 2021 Get With The Guidelines NSTEMI Silver Award for patients with a less severe form of heart attack; and the 2021 Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Award for Heart Failure.

“Our Center for Heart & Vascular Health and our community have much to be proud of,” said Kirk Garratt, M.D., medical director of the Center for Heart & Vascular Health. “We provide great outcomes, and we also listen to patients and families and work to ensure that the stressful experience of surgery is as easy as it can be. That kind of commitment leads to this kind of recognition.”

Heart Disease Remains a Leading Killer in the U.S.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease remains a leading killer in the nation—claiming more than 600,000 lives each year. In addition, the AHA anticipates the effects of COVID-19 are likely to influence cardiovascular health and mortality rates for many years.

“February is American Heart Month, and there is no better time for us to take stock of our heart health than now,” Dr. Garratt said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges to people living with chronic conditions such as heart disease. People with heart conditions are at greater risk of complications from the virus and also continue to need assistance managing their heart health. If you are a heart patient, please do not postpone your regular visit with your cardiologist.”

The STS is a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 7,600 surgeons, researchers and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The STS National Database was established in 1989 as an initiative for quality improvement and patient safety among cardiothoracic surgeons.

About the Center for Heart & Vascular Health
ChristianaCare’s Center for Heart & Vascular Health is among the largest, most capable regional heart centers on the East Coast. It is one of the only centers in the region that integrates in a single location and under one roof cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, vascular interventional radiology, cardiology and interventional nephrology. Its team of experienced cardiovascular surgeons and heart experts perform nearly 700 open-heart procedures each year and treat more than 8,000 total heart and vascular cases annually. For more information, visit https://christianacare.org/services/heart/.

Beebe Healthcare recently became the first healthcare system in Delaware to offer a Hospital at Home program for patients who meet the criteria.

Beebee Healthcare in the Comfort of Your Home

Beebe’s Hospital at Home Program allows patients to be treated for their medical condition in the comfort of their own home as a substitute for traditional inpatient, in-the-hospital care. 

“This is how Beebe is providing the best care right here in Sussex County – collaborative innovations that provides a patient with the personalized and empathetic care plan for their needs,” said David A. Tam, MD, MBA, FACHE, President & CEO, Beebe Healthcare. “I’m proud of the multi-disciplinary team from patient care to IT to make this secure and innovative service available to patients.” 

Beebe Healthcare physicians and nurses will provide the care needed. In addition, the patient’s care team may include nurse practitioners, social workers, care coordinators, physical therapists, or other care members.

“Patients find being cared for at home to be a more restful and convenient experience than the hospital,” said Lynne Voskamp, DNP, RN, CEN, Beebe Healthcare’s Vice President of Nursing Operations & Continuum of Care, Chief Nursing Officer, and Administrator of Home Care Services. “Our team provides the same excellent care at home as you would receive in the hospital. This includes services such as IV medication, lab tests, physical therapy services, and oxygen therapy – all at no additional cost to the patient.”

As part of the Hospital at Home program, care provided in the patient’s home includes:

• Transportation back home from the hospital
• Delivery and set up of any necessary equipment needed, including IV medications
• Computer tablet that allows patients to see and talk to their doctor or nurse from their home
• Daily visits from doctors or nurse practitioners (NPs) in person or through the computer tablet
• Two daily visits by a registered nurse
• Support from social workers and physical therapists
• Assistance in scheduling follow-up appointments.

 Patients will be provided the following equipment along with the computer tablet:

• Scale
• Pulse Oximeter
• Blood Pressure Monitor
• Thermometer.

To learn more about Beebe’s Hospital at Home program, visit beebehealthcare.org/services/hospital-medicine.

About Beebee Healthcare

Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people who live in, work in, and visit the communities we serve. Beebe Healthcare has three campuses: the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus, which houses the medical center; the Rehoboth Health Campus; and the South Coastal Health Campus. Beebe Healthcare offers primary care as well as specialized services in the areas of cardiovascular, oncology, orthopaedics, general surgery, robotic surgery, and women’s health. Beebe also offers walk-in care, lab, imaging, and physical rehabilitation services at several locations throughout Sussex County, in addition to a home health program and a comprehensive community health program.

For more information about Beebe Healthcare, visit beebehealthcare.org.