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Swedish Medical Center in Seattle Enters Heart-Surgery Affiliation With Cleveland Clinic

Posted on: Monday, 14 August 2006, 15:00 CDT

SEATTLE, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Swedish Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic -- an international leader and the top-ranked heart center in America according to U.S. News and World Report -- today announced a clinical affiliation in cardiac surgery that will further enhance heart care offered by the Seattle medical center. This is the first affiliation Cleveland Clinic has established with another cardiac-surgery program on the West Coast.

This affiliation, between Cleveland Clinic's Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery and the cardiac-surgery program of the Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute combines the academic, clinical and research components of Cleveland Clinic with Washington state's most comprehensive source for advanced cardiovascular care.

"Establishing an affiliation with the nation's leader in heart care is a tremendous opportunity for the Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute and a tremendous opportunity for this region," said Swedish President and CEO Richard Peterson.

Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Known worldwide for expertise in cardiovascular care, Cleveland Clinic invented coronary angiography, performed the first cardiac bypass and continues to lead the way in developing state-of-the-art cardiac treatments.

"This exciting affiliation with Cleveland Clinic will allow us to reorganize and strengthen all elements of cardiac surgery, with a heightened emphasis on clinical quality and an appropriate case mix to better serve the Northwest's growing, aging population," said Howard Lewis, M.D., executive director of the Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute.

Cleveland Clinic will be responsible for operational management of the Swedish cardiac-surgery practice. This will include standardization of approaches, management of ancillary services, coordination of patient flow, patient satisfaction monitoring and all related work.

"This affiliation enhances opportunities to provide new treatments and therapies to patients and it accelerates our mutual accomplishments in leading cardiac care," said Bruce Lytle, M.D., chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery. "I look forward to what this collaboration will bring to the Northwest and what we will learn."

Under this affiliation, Cleveland Clinic and the Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute will share clinical policies, treatment protocols and research opportunities. In addition, we will recruit a new cardiac surgeon and medical director for the Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute's cardiac-surgery program to carry on leadership of this service.

To enhance clinical integration, Swedish's four existing cardiac surgeons -- Drs. William Curtis, David Gartman, Dev Manhas and Joseph Teply -- will participate in clinical conferences and educational programs offered by Cleveland Clinic in addition to being on the Clinic's affiliate medical staff.

"When we began talking with Cleveland Clinic representatives, the first thing they wanted to see was our baseline data on heart-surgery outcomes," said John Capps, administrative director of the Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute. "They were pleased that our numbers were good, but both parties agreed that further improvement could be achieved by working together."

Through the new affiliation, Swedish has created an integrated cardiac- surgery group with a common approach, performance expectations, incentives and goals.

Across the nation, cardiac-surgery programs have faced a drop in demand over the past decade. Success with catheter-based or minimally invasive procedures (i.e., with angioplasty, stenting, etc.) and drug therapies have greatly reduced patients' need for more invasive coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures. While generally good for a community's health status, side effects of the newer approaches to care have caused a decline in cardiac- surgery volumes, resulting in a reduction in skilled cardiac surgeons, physician assistants, perfusionists and nurses.

"With the addition of this affiliation we're building the strongest cardiac-surgery program possible, while adapting to the times," said Dr. Lewis. "That means minimally invasive techniques, more valve surgery and open ablation of atrial fibrillation, while reducing the emphasis on bypass-graft surgery. These advanced techniques can significantly reduce a patient's risk of later medical problems, including stroke."

About the Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute

The Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute is Washington state's most comprehensive source for advanced cardiovascular care. From prevention and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation, the Institute is committed to staying at the forefront of cardiovascular medicine. The Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute is affiliated with more than 60 cardiovascular specialists from around the Puget Sound region, including cardiologists, surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and vascular specialists. In addition, the Institute's partnerships with hospitals and cardiology practices region-wide provide patients the opportunity to receive the majority of their care close to home. And, if they need it, they also have access to Swedish Medical Center for the latest nonsurgical treatments, clinical research and sophisticated surgeries.

About Swedish Medical Center

Swedish Medical Center is the largest, most comprehensive, nonprofit health provider in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1910, it now has more than 7,000 employees and a medical staff of more than 2,000 physicians, most of which are private practitioners. Swedish now encompasses three hospital campuses (First Hill, Providence and Ballard) totaling 1,245 licensed beds, a new freestanding emergency room and specialty center in Issaquah, Swedish Home Care Services and Swedish Physicians - a network of 12 primary-care clinics located throughout the Greater Seattle area. In addition to general medical and surgical care, Swedish is known as a regional referral center, providing specialized treatment in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer care, orthopedics, high-risk obstetrics, neurological care, sleep medicine, pediatrics, organ transplantation and clinical research. For more information, visit http://www.swedish.org/

About Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute

Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute is the recognized world leader in diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Cleveland Clinic has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for cardiac care by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1995. Cleveland Clinic has been ranked among America's Ten Best Hospitals every year since 1990 by U.S. News & World Report.

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit multi- specialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual 'America's Best Hospitals' survey. Approximately 1,500 full-time salaried physicians at Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Florida represent more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties. In 2005, there were 2.9 million outpatient visits to Cleveland Clinic. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 80 countries. There were nearly 54,000 hospital admissions to Cleveland Clinic in 2005. Cleveland Clinic's Web site address is http://www.clevelandclinic.org/.

Swedish Medical Center

CONTACT: Ed Boyle of Swedish Medical Center, +1-206-386-2748, ored.boyle@swedish.org; or Kate Nagel, +1-216-445-6472, or nagelk@ccf.org

Web site: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/

Web site: http://www.swedish.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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