Cardiac services

CAMC is home to one of the top heart centers in the nation, performing close to 1,500 open-heart bypass procedures and 8,600 cardiac catheterizations per year. There are 13 thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons and 36 cardiologists practicing here.

In our effort to attain a high-level of care, we participate in several quality initiatives. We are participating in a demonstration project with several hundred other hospitals and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). A set of outcomes measures has been developed by CMS for the heart attack patient. The major outcome measure is called the Door-to-Balloon Initiative, where the patient experiencing chest pain is treated in the cardiac catheterization lab within 90 minutes of entering the emergency department. Other outcome measures include the administration of certain medications at admission and extensive education on these medications. If patients smoke, are offered tobacco cessation information to assist in their efforts to quit smoking. 

Because of all of these things, CAMC is recognized nationally for its quality outcome measures. This recognition, and the care that we provide to our patients, is part of what makes CAMC the heart and soul of health care.