Thursday, September 22, 2011
Winston-Salem, NC- The Forsyth Cardiac and Vascular Center at Forsyth Medical Center will affiliate with the Cleveland Clinic to locally deliver world-class cardiovascular services. This affiliation will combine the unparalleled research and expertise of Cleveland Clinic's heart program with Forsyth's cardiovascular programs to provide the highest-quality, most comprehensive patient care across the Carolinas.
This relationship will include the spectrum of heart care from prevention to medical cardiology to cardiovascular surgery. The new name for cardiovascular services at Forsyth Medical Center will be Forsyth Cardiac and Vascular center in affiliation with Cleveland Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute.
Forsyth Medical Center is part of Novant Health, an integrated health system, which has reached a similar agreement between the Cleveland Clinic and Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte.
When patients across the Carolinas are diagnosed with heart disease, Forsyth's clinical team will have access to opportunities to provide new treatments and therapies to patients, as well as accelerated access to Cleveland Clinic's cardiac care, explained Paul Wiles, president and chief executive officer of Novant Health. That team will work together to design custom treatment plans for patients allowing them to stay in their community for care.
"We already have excellent surgeons, cardiologists and nurses who have developed a top-quality cardiac program at the Forsyth Cardiac and Vascular Center, " said Wiles. "Affiliating with Cleveland Clinic's world-renowned program and specialists will allow us to advance our program to a level traditionally found only at a handful of facilities around the world."
Cleveland Clinic will work with Forsyth's clinical team to give patients access to the most advanced research, programs, technologies, and clinical techniques. Forsyth surgeons will participate in training, technologies and clinical techniques. Forsyth surgeons will participate in training, conferences and educational programs provided by the nation's number one ranked heart program. Forsyth physicians will regularly collaborate with their colleagues at Cleveland Clinic and have access to emerging technology and procedures being evaluated at Cleveland Clinic.
In 2011, Cleveland Clinic's Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute was rated No. 1 in the nation for heart care by US News and World Report for the 17th consecutive year. Forsyth Cardiac and Vascular Center ranks in the top 10 percent in the nation for cardiac care with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) quality comparisons. Forsyth Medical Center also earned a prestigious three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, which is the highest quality of cardiac surgical care achieved by less than 12 percent of cardiac surgery hospitals in the United States.
"This affiliation will allow Forsyth Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic to accelerate advancements in cardiac care in the Carolinas and beyond," said Bruce Lytle, M.D. chairman of the Cleveland Clinic's Heart and Vascular Institute. "Treating patients with cardiovascular disease is complex, but new surgical techniques and technologies are always emerging. Our affiliation will help us deliver these new innovations to patients more quickly."
Forsyth Cardiac and Vascular Center's board-certified physician partners Winston-Salem Cardiology Associates, Heart & Vascular Physicians, Davidson Cardiology, Forsyth Cardiology Associates and Forsyth Cardiac and Vascular Surgeons are integral to the success of the program and will work closely with Cleveland Clinic experts.
Our surgical outcomes are among the best in the country, " said Joel Morgan, M.D., cardiac surgeon and chief of surgery, Forsyth Medical Center. "However cardiac care is continually evolving and we are excited to work with the best in the country to ensure that we are at the forefront of that evolution for our patients," he added.
"We are pleased to be part of Cleveland Clinic's commitment to the prevention and cure of cardiovascular disease, " said David Smull, D.O., medical director, heart failure program, Forsyth Medical Center. "We look forward to bringing their innovative care to our communities to improve the quality of life for patients."
About Cleveland Clinic
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. It 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. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survery. About 2,800 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic Health System includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, nine community hospitals and 15 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2013, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2010, there were 4 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 155,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries. Visit us as www.clevelandclinic.org Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic
About Forsyth's Cardiac and Vascular
Forsyth's Cardiac and Vascular Center combines leading-edge cardiovascular research and treatments with community health and wellness education, patient education, support programs and rehabilitation services to care for patients with heart and vascular disease. In 2010, Forsyth Medical Center was recognized by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons with the Society's 3-star rating--representing the highest-quality of cardiac care. Less than 12 percent of all cardiac hospitals nationwide received this top ranking for consistently providing the best surgical outcomes. Visit www.forsythmedicalcenter.org Follow us at www.twiiter.com/forsythmedicalcenter
About Novant Health
Novant Health is a not-for-profit, integrated health system of 13 hospitals and a medical group consisting of 1,117 physicians in 359 clinic locations, caring for patients and communities in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Other Novant facilities and programs include outpatient surgery centers, medical plazas, rehabilitation programs, diagnostic imaging centers and community health outreach programs. Novant Health is ranked 14th nationally among the top 2011 Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks, according to an analysis by the SDI health informatics company.
