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St. Vincent Heart Valve Mortality Rate Causes Concern, Cleveland Clinic To The Rescue?

By Adam Pick on June 27, 2007

Hey everybody,

As I have written before, selecting the right surgeon and medical center is a very serious consideration as you prepare for heart valve surgery - either heart valve repair or heart valve replacement. There are several strategies and tactics for finding the right surgeon for you. I actually dedicate an entire chapter to that topic in my book. Anyways, in a previous blog, I noted that mortality rates were reported to be on the decline (see below); however, a recent report surfaced that St. Vincent's hospital is experiencing the exact opposite trend.

Here is that story from Erie Times-News:

ERIE, Pa. - St. Vincent Health Center is in talks with the Cleveland Clinic and two other health systems about a cardiac-care affiliation, according to a St. Vincent spokesman.

Pete Sitter, however, said no contracts have been signed.

The talks come after St. Vincent heart surgeons posted higher-than-expected mortality rates for heart-valve surgery in a recent report.

If St. Vincent affiliates with the Cleveland Clinic, patients from the Erie area wouldn't have to travel to Ohio for heart surgeries. Instead, the Cleveland Clinic would help hire and supervise heart surgeons at St. Vincent.

For an annual fee, the Cleveland Clinic also will allow the affiliate to use its brand and offer its experience in administration, medical education, quality assurance and other areas.

Cleveland Clinic officials said they do not comment on negotiations.

To learn more about heart valve surgery mortality rates, please read "Dispelling The Fear Of Heart Valve Surgery: Chapter Two Of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery Book".

Keep on tickin!
Adam

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Written by Adam Pick
Patient & Website Founder

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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