The East Carolina Heart Institute at Pitt County Memorial marks first year of operation

Jan. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- Greenville, N.C. - This month marks the first anniversary of the opening of the East Carolina Heart Institute at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. In its first year, the Heart Institute at PCMH has treated more than 6,000 inpatients and been home to more than 70,000 procedures.

The Heart Institute at PCMH is a world-class facility, with cutting-edge technology and a building design that contributes to healing. But a caring, stable staff is what differentiates it from other heart hospitals, said Brian Floyd, vice president of cardiovascular and emergency services at PCMH.

“This is the most advanced facility for cardiovascular care in this part of the country,” Floyd said. “But more importantly, we’re building an advanced team of caregivers who are expert at what they do and have a passion for people.”

Since opening the Heart Institute at PCMH in January 2009, Pitt Memorial has seen considerable improvements in publicly reported quality data on heart failure and heart attack care. Data on heart care at PCMH is available online at quality.uhseast.com. Satisfaction among cardiovascular patients has improved since the new facility opened, Floyd said.

During its first year of operation, the Heart Institute earned accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers, and its cafeteria won the Whole Grain Council’s 2009 Whole Grain Challenge. The Heart Institute Cafe has served more than 26,000 meals in its first year.

The Heart Institute at PCMH has also had an economic impact. It employs more than 500 people and paid more than $27 million in salaries and benefits during its first year.

“We’re proud to celebrate the first anniversary of opening this innovative facility,” said PCMH President Steve Lawler. “Our goal is to significantly reduce the impact of cardiovascular disease in eastern North Carolina. We still have much work to do before reaching that goal.”

The six-story, 375,000-square-foot Heart Institute at PCMH is home to 120 inpatient cardiovascular beds, six operating rooms and 11 interventional laboratories.

The bed tower at PCMH is one half of the East Carolina Heart Institute. The East Carolina Heart Institute at East Carolina University is a $60 million research, education and outpatient care facility. The four-story, 206,000-square-foot ECU building opened in September 2008. ECU and PCMH jointly dedicated the East Carolina Heart Institute in December 2008.

The opening of the East Carolina Heart Institute also inaugurated a new way of treating cardiovascular illness. The Brody School of Medicine at ECU and PCMH reorganized their cardiovascular services, aligning them by disease processes rather than traditional academic disciplines. The move brought cardiologists, heart surgeons and vascular surgeons together and has increased communication among clinicians, according to Floyd.

Planning for the East Carolina Heart Institute dates back to 2003. In 2004, the N.C. General Assembly allocated $60 million for creation of the institute.

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University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina Inc., a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in six eastern North Carolina hospitals and has management agreements with two others. UHS includes Albemarle Health, Bertie Memorial Hospital, Chowan Hospital, Duplin General Hospital, Heritage Hospital, Outer Banks Hospital, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, University Home Health and Hospice; ViQuest; and physician practices and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.