Comprehensive Cardiovascular Services Under One Roof
New Heart Hospital a Plus for Patients

Jacksonville, FL, February 01, 2005 - February is American Heart Month, and Jacksonville residents have a special cause for celebration this year: the opening of Baptist Health's new state-of-the-art Heart Hospital at Baptist Medical Center Downtown. When completed this summer, the Hospital will provide comprehensive cardiovascular care for adults.

"Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Florida and a serious health concern for many people in our region," says A. Hugh Greene, president and CEO of Baptist Health. "While we already provide a wide array of cardiovascular services, our new Heart Hospital allows us to expand our offerings and consolidate them into one area."

The Heart Hospital will enable Baptist to offer a full continuum of cardiac care - from prevention through rehabilitation - under one roof.

"Patients will see better coordination of their care, which allows them to recover faster and get back to their lives," Greene says.

The Heart Hospital is designed around the needs of the patients and their families to provide a healing environment featuring private rooms, gathering areas and kitchens for families, a wellness center, and spaces for reflection and contemplation.

Award-Winning Heart Surgery Program

Baptist offers a wide range of sophisticated cardiac surgical procedures including coronary artery bypass, both on- and off-pump; aortic and mitral valve replacement and repair; transmyocardial revascularization and ventricular remodeling for congestive heart failure; and the MAZE procedure for atrial fibrillation.

The Heart Hospital will house a fast growing heart surgery program, with more than 500 cardiac surgeries performed in both 2003 and 2004. "Our increased surgical volume has been accompanied by a remarkable improvement in outcomes," reports Keith L. Stein, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Baptist Health.

Indeed, Baptist's cardiac surgery program has been recognized by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) for its commitment to quality improvement. JCAHO's prestigious Ernest A. Codman award for 2003 honored a treatment protocol developed at Baptist that has led to the near elimination of postsurgical infections at Baptist Downtown.

"Our physicians are committed to offering patients the latest innovations in cardiac diagnosis, treatment, management and rehabilitation," says Dr. Stein. "Many of these procedures and treatments help patients lead fuller, longer lives."

Innovations in Interventional Cardiology

Innovation is not limited to the surgical side of Baptist's heart program. Cardiologists at Baptist were involved in the research and development of drug-eluting (drug-coated) stents, which have been shown to significantly reduce the formation of new blockages following angioplasty.

Among other achievements in this area, Baptist cardiologists were among the first in the world to perform cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation using a fourth-generation pacemaker/defibrillator.

"This therapy has allowed us to halt or even reverse the progression of disease in heart failure patients who were considering hospice care," says Dr. Stein.

"Our cardiovascular program is seeing some truly remarkable treatments and outcomes," adds Greene. "We believe by consolidating these services in our new Heart Hospital, our patients will be the beneficiaries of new clinical breakthroughs, and collaborations between our physicians."