VERO BEACH, Fla.- The nation's leading cardiothoracic surgery organization-the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)-has awarded its highest quality achievement rating to The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center, recognizing it as one of the top heart centers in the United States.
More than 900 hospitals, including America's leading academic medical centers and most respected cardiac hospitals, voluntarily submit their cardiac surgery outcomes for analysis. For 2008, The Heart Center ranked among only 15 percent of programs nationwide to receive STS's highest rating of "Three-Stars."
"This validates our heart surgery program as one of the best in the United States," said Jeffrey L. Susi, IRMC president and CEO. "It is testimony to the skill and leadership of cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons Drs. Cary Stowe and Mark Malias, the expertise of cardiac anesthesiologists Drs. John Lindenthal, Geoffrey Wolf and Virginia Fegert, and to the entire Heart Center team's passion for and commitment to providing top quality patient care.
The STS database, which includes more than 3.5 million patient records, measures the performance of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in four areas: surgical quality, appropriate medication, complications and death rates, based on a combination of 11 processes and outcome measures endorsed by the National Quality Forum.
The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center
An affiliate of Duke University Health System, The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center opened in November 2006. First year results exceeded expectations in every category when benchmarked against the Society of Thoracic Surgeons national database. Two 1,000 sq. ft. operating suites, twice the size of traditional ORs, feature the latest in advanced technology and equipment. Two state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Labs provide diagnostic catheterizations, balloon angioplasty and coronary artery stenting. The Heart Center offers a comprehensive continuum of care, including a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Step-Down Unit and an accredited Cardiac Rehab program. In June 2009, The Heart Center reached a milestone of performing its 500 th open-heart surgical case.
Medical Director, Cardiovascular Surgery Services, The Heart Center, IRMC
Cary L. Stowe, M.D., a clinical faculty member of Duke University School of Medicine, is a nationally recognized cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgeon. He received his medical training at the University of Alabama in Birmingham; Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.; Methodist Hospital in Houston; and Emory University in Atlanta. Each of these four institutions is listed as one of the nation's top-20 heart surgery programs by US News & World Report.
A student of Drs. Michael E. DeBakey and Stanley Crawford, two of the world's pioneers in cardiovascular surgery, Dr. Stowe is a published contributor in national journals on topics of thoracic aortic surgery, valve repair and other cardiovascular issues.
Dr. Stowe joined the medical staff of Indian River Medical Center from Florida Hospital in Orlando in the summer of 2006 as IRMC's first cardiovascular surgeon.
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon, The Heart Center, IRMC
Dr. Mark A. Malias, who serves as a clinical faculty member of Duke University School of Medicine, is a
cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon who joined Dr. Cary Stowe and The Heart Center at IRMC team in August 2007. Dr. Malias' undergraduate degree was earned at Princeton University. He received his medical training and completed his surgical internship at the University of Louisville and served a thoracic and cardiovascular surgery fellowship at the University of Florida.
In addition to cardiac surgery, Dr. Malias leads a multidisciplinary group of pulmonologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists who meet regularly to discuss lung cancer patient cases. This collaborative team works closely with the primary care physician to help determine optimum diagnostic and treatment regimes.
Medical Director, Cardiovascular Anesthesia, The Heart Center, IRMC
Dr. John Lindenthal received his medical degree at Texas Tech University School of Medicine, served his internship at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and residency at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and completed his fellowship at New England Medical Center Hospital. He is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and in the subspecialty of perioperative transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). Dr. Lindenthal is a clinical faculty member of Duke University School of Medicine.
Medical Director of Anesthesia Services, IRMC
Dr. Geoffrey Wolf received his medical degree at the University of Florida College of Medicine, completed his internship at The Medical Center of Georgia, and served his residency at the University of Florida. He is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
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Virginia Fegert, M.D.
Cardiac Anesthesiologist, IRMC
Dr. Virginia Fegert received her medical training at Tulane University School of Medicine, served her internship at the University of California at San Francisco and her residency and fellowship at the University of California at San Francisco. She is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
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George Mitchell, D.O.
Medical Director of Critical Care Medicine, IRMC
Dr. George Mitchell received his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his internship at Botsford General Hospital, and served his residency at Botsford General Hospital and the Hospital of Philadelphia. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Mitchell recently received the Excellence in Teaching Award, chosen by the Florida State University/Ft. Pierce Campus College of Medicine's Class of 2009. Dr. Mitchell also is a member of the clinical faculty of Duke University School of Medicine.
Society of Thoracic SurgeonsThe Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 5,800 surgeons, researchers, and allied health professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible heart, lung, esophageal, and other surgical procedures for the chest. Founded in 1964, the mission of STS is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy.
For more information about Indian River Medical Center, visit
www.irmc.cc or call 772.567.4311. For more information about the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, visit
www.sts.org or call 312.202.5800.