Thursday, July 22, 2010
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UVA and VCU to expand congenital cardiac surgical care for pediatric and adult patients
The University of Virginia Health System and Virginia
Commonwealth University Medical Center today announced the Pediatric Surgery
Congenital Heart Collaborative to provide coordinated pediatric cardiac
surgical care and adult congenital cardiac surgical care for patients in
Charlottesville and Richmond.
The joint program also will provide treatment and
educational and research services that enhance patient access to specialized
surgical treatments with coordinated patient care.
"Virginia's two major academic medical centers are
collaborating our clinical expertise, advanced technology and research to
extend the surgical care for children and adults with congenital heart disease
to a coordinated, collaborative level," said R. Edward Howell, vice president
and CEO, University of Virginia Medical Center. "At the same time, we are
increasing efficiencies and avoiding duplication and costs."
VCU and UVA officials said the program also will enhance
the organizations' ability to attract and retain high quality health care
providers and translational research efforts.
"We are excited about this agreement because it
provides a formal framework for VCU and UVA to collaborate our shared goal to
provide outstanding pediatric heart surgical care to children and
families," said John Duval, CEO of MCV Hospitals, VCU Health System.
Dr. Irving L. Kron, a renowned thoracic and
cardiovascular surgeon, will work collaboratively with the management of UVA
and VCU to provide overall medical direction for the joint program. "I
look forward to working with VCU for the care of patients with congenital heart
disease," Kron stated.
Dr. James Gangemi, a distinguished pediatric thoracic and
cardiothoracic surgeon, will serve as surgical medical director for the
program. Referring physicians and patients or their families will be able to
meet with Dr. Gangemi for specialized congenital heart surgical care
consultation. Surgical care will be provided at VCU and UVA depending on the
patient needs. "We have a history of collaborating across the commonwealth
and have developed a dedicated team that allows us to provide outstanding care
to children having heart surgery on a wide variety of congenital heart
defects," Gangemi said.
Officials said the collaborative program ultimately will
result in a regional and national model for pediatric cardiac surgery care and
adult congenital cardiac surgery care, treatment, training and research.