Surgical Evaluation of Geriatric Patients by Dr. Steven Harrington: The heart, a remarkable organ that beats tirelessly throughout our lives, requires specialized care as we age. Ensuring its health means not only practicing heart-healthy lifestyle measures but also understanding the unique challenges the geriatric heart faces, particularly when surgical interventions come into play. In…
The Relationship Between Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Cardiac Surgery Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 15% to 50% of adults undergoing cardiac surgery. The definition of AKI is defined by a 0.3mg/dL or 50% increase in serum creatinine from the patients’ baseline or oliguria. After using a comprehensive review of the literature, including pharmacologic…
Choosing the Right Delivery Model Traditionally, vascular and cardiac procedures were performed in hospital-based operating rooms or specialized interventional suites. However, advancements in technology and changes in healthcare delivery models have led to the emergence of Office-based labs (OBL) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) as an alternative setting for certain procedures. The concept of office-based…
Elevating Program Quality and Cardiovascular Patient Care We all understand the vital role that a robust cardiovascular program plays in a healthcare facility. Ensuring a quality level of patient care, achieving superior outcomes, and maintaining financial stability are key objectives for any organization. However, in an evolving healthcare landscape, how can you make your cardiovascular…
Cardiac Care Excellence Awards Twenty-six Corazon, Inc. partner hospitals were recently bestowed a “Cardiac Care Excellence Award” by Healthgrades as part of their annual Specialty Excellence Awards. This award serves to recognize hospitals “that deliver superior patient outcomes in heart bypass surgery, coronary interventional procedures, heart attack treatment, heart failure treatment, and heart valve surgery.”…
Open-Heart Surgery: A Cornerstone Cardiovascular Program Open-heart surgery (OHS) has long been a cornerstone of cardiovascular patient care as it encompasses some of the most clinically complex procedures that can be performed to support, renew, or improve heart function in patients. The term typically includes coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and surgical heart valve replacement…
Treating Peripheral Vascular Disease Within the past 30-40 years, there has been a technological revolution in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Unfortunately, the healthcare industry has not always kept up with the advancements in care and in some areas, has fallen far below the potential level that is achievable. The impact on the industry…
The introduction of cardiopulmonary bypass in the 1950s revolutionized the field of cardiac surgery. Fast forward to today and we are seeing how technology, innovation, and consumer demand drive the move towards less invasive methods of treatment. This move does not represent a decline in cardiac surgery, but an evolution in the way health care…
With advances in Cardiology procedure technology and the goal of achieving a lower cost of care, there has been a visible shift in procedures from the inpatient to the outpatient settings. Several changes in CMS rulings in the last fifteen years have spurred an increase in office-based laboratories (“OBLs”), including catheterization laboratories and vascular access…
Have you ever wondered whether your cardiac cath lab was running as efficiently as possible? Would you be able to gauge its efficiency? And most importantly, are these considerations even important? Well, in this ever-changing healthcare environment, it is of the utmost importance to be able to deliver services in a cost-effective manner while maintaining…
