Genesis Heart Institute Celebrates Year of Progress  (Posted 12/11/06) 

Genesis Heart Institute members recently celebrated excellent outcomes and the culmination of six years of investment in facilities and technology to advance cardiac care in the  Quad Cities.

The November 2, 2006, annual meeting was an opportunity to showcase the strides of nearly 35 years of leading-edge heart care. 

"Throughout the community, thousands of patients have shown their support for the Genesis Heart Institute and owe their survival to the talents of the individuals and infrastructure within our heart program," said Edmund Coyne, M.D., Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C., and Chair of the Genesis Heart Institute Board of Directors.  "A team of more than 200 employees support these endeavors."

In the past year, Genesis Heart Institute successes have included: 

• Excellent outcomes from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) --
  Genesis Heart Institute outcomes show that heart care at Genesis is safer, less invasive and more efficient than at most U.s. hospitals.  As one of about 500 hospitals submitting data to the ACC database, Genesis continues to rank highly in many quality measures, including in the 91st percentile nationally for heart attack response times and in the 97th percentile for length of stay for patients who have percutaneous coronary interventions for the treatment of narrowed arteries. 

"Today, only about 8 of every 100 patients who come to Genesis with a high-grade coronary problem will require surgical intervention, compared to approximately 20-30 percent for hospitals nationally," Dr. Coyne said.  "For our patients, that means less pain and shorter-term disability."  

• Rapid treatment of heart attack --
  Since the institution of a heart attack alert system in June 2004, Genesis has continued to improve its "door-to-dilation" times, or how quickly the blocked artery is opened in a catheterization lab once patients arrive at the Emergency Department. 

"Our fastest time to date is 22 minutes," Dr. Coyne said.  "But I'm proud to say our success is round-the-clock consistent:  Our average door-to-dilation time is 56 minutes - considerably faster than the national standard of care of 90 minutes."  

• Heart surgery -- 
  In the area of heart bypass surgery, Genesis has attained superior mortality ratios - the national standard for measuring outcomes - and compares better than the national average.  in addition, new facilities housing the cardiothoracic surgeons and staff have been completed in the Heart Institute building.  
• Cardiac specialty center designation --
  This year, Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, was re-designated as a United Health Premium cardiac specialty center, reflecting that it measures favorably against nationally recognized benchmarks for outstanding cardiac care. 
• Increased level of care at Illini --
  In the past year, the catheterization lab at the Genesis, Illini Campus, advanced to a new level of care and now offers elective angioplasty in cases of low-to-moderate risk.  The hospital also instituted a heart attack alert response system.  
• Clinical research --
  In 2006, Genesis Heart Institute researchers launched seven new research studies; completed four studies; and published and presented numerous abstracts and technical papers to national and international audiences.  Nicolas Shammas, M.D., and Michael Giudici, M.D., were recognized for their extensive body of research. 
• New technology --
  A new state-of-the-art telemetry system provides centralized, continuous cardiac monitoring for patients at the Davenport campuses, as well as the Illini and DeWitt campuses.  In the area of cardiac diagnostics, a digital echo system was implemented.  

Also this year, multi-layers of technology enabled health professionals sitting in the Adler Education Center at Genesis to watch a procedure underway in the catheterization lab - in real time.  "Such technological advancements reflect the distinction that Genesis has earned as one of the nation's "100 Most Wired" health systems," Dr. Coyne said. 

• Facility renovation --
  Now that a $6.9 million renovation on the East Rusholme Street Campus is complete, the entire fourth floor is devoted to cardiac care, with expanded nursing stations, updated technology, and private rooms. 

"This is really the culmination of about six years of investment and building for cardiac services," said Carole Reid, MSN, RN, Vice President of Patient Services, who oversees the cardiac service line.  "It began in the year 2000 when we broke ground for the Heart Institute itself.  It progressed to the second floor with eight catheterization labs, two additional surgical suites, a new intensive care unit and then ended this past year with the renovation of the third and fourth floors of the East Campus.  This represents about a $50 million investment in equipment and facilities over that time and demonstrates the importance of cardiac services to our organization."  

• Children's Cardiac Risk Factor Reduction Program --
  This year, the Heart Institute showed its commitment to the community by launching a Children's Cardiac Risk Factor Reduction Program, the first of its type in the state of Iowa.  The program puts children at early risk for heart disease into a program aimed at making lasting changes to their eating and exercise habits.  
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screenings --
  More than 400 Quad Citians also signed up for reduced-cost abdominal aortic aneurysm screenings - a cooperative effort of the Genesis Heart Institute, radiologists, and vascular surgeons.  An abnormality was found in 9.5 percent of those people who were screened.  

At the Annual Meeting, cardiologist Vijay Rajendran, M.D., was elected to the Genesis Heart Institute Board of Directors, replacing Dr. Coyne, who was honored for his leadership during two terms on the Board.  Chuck Bruhn, CEO of the Genesis, Illini Campus, and Carole Reid, MSN, RN, Vice President of Patient Services, were re-appointed as hospital directors on the Board.  

-- by Linda Barlow, Genesis