$15 Million Heart & Vascular Institute Opens at Regional Hospital
9/19/2017
SCRANTON, Pa. (Sept. 19, 2017) – Commonwealth Health today unveiled its newly established Heart & Vascular Institute at Regional Hospital – one of the first phases of the 20/20 Project that was announced earlier this year.
The 13,000-square-foot Heart & Vascular Institute on the hospital’s second floor will allow for all cardiac-related procedures to be performed in one general area, making it more convenient and efficient for both patients and health care professionals.
The $15 million project was announced last year and includes construction of the Heart & Vascular Institute, purchase of new cardiology equipment and expenses for the relocation of the conference center, along with the expansion of the hospital’s intensive care unit from 16 beds to 24 beds. The larger ICU is expected to be open by the spring.
During the program which was attended by corporate and hospital officials, physicians, staff and public officials, CEO Justin Davis announced that Regional Hospital became the first facility in the nation to be accredited as a Cardiovascular Center of Excellence by the American Heart Association.
To earn Cardiovascular Center of Excellence accreditation, the Regional cardiovascular team was required to demonstrate excellence in cardiovascular care -- beginning from early patient and community engagement and external support, to providing scientific, evidence-based guidelines-driven care.
The Regional Heart & Vascular Institute is part of Commonwealth Health’s 20/20 Plan, an approximately $80 million investment into a construction and renovation project that will connect Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor and create a unified Commonwealth Health Scranton Campus.
The new Heart & Vascular Institute includes three cardiac catheterization labs, an electrophysiology lab, a hybrid lab, 10 pre-op/post-op rooms, a post-anesthesia care unit and a diagnostics suite.
Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women on national, state and local levels which is a major reason for the strong focus on cardiovascular care at Regional Hospital, according to Justin Davis, CEO of Regional and Moses Taylor hospitals.
Heart disease not only affects older people but is the major cause of premature deaths in Pennsylvania. Lackawanna County has a significantly higher age-adjusted mortality rate than the state average.
When completed around 2020, the Scranton Campus will provide the Lackawanna County and surrounding communities with the region’s most comprehensive health network, offering the highest quality of care through the coordination of services between the two hospitals. The changes will enhance clinical programs, service lines and patient services, create a contemporary clinical environment that supports physician, nurse and staff recruitment, and improve infrastructure for patient and physician convenience.
The plan includes several major construction projects and connecting bridges between the existing Regional and Moses Taylor facilities. Both hospitals will offer all private rooms and will be extensively renovated and modernized to allow for easier access between the two facilities for patients, visitors, physicians and staff.
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