The Mohawk Valley Heart Institute (MVHI) will celebrate its 15th Anniversary of cardiac services in October 2012. The first open-heart surgery was performed on October 17, 1997. Recognition was given to all the MVHI staff members for their hard work and dedication, and to all the people in the community who helped Utica hospitals obtain approval for the open-heart program.
Among the highlights of MVHI’s 15 years:
¨ More than 325 open-heart surgeries performed during the first year
¨ Inpatient and outpatient rehab visits reach 8,000 during the first year
¨ Angioplasty program begins, February 1999
¨ New $1.5 million Cath Lab opens, May 2001
¨ Fifth anniversary: 2,319 cardiac surgeries, 4,474 coronary angioplasties and 14,978 cardiac catheterizations performed
¨ Electrophysiology Services begin, February 2003
¨ Collaboration with Masonic Medical Research Lab begins, August 2005
¨ 10,000th Angioplasty performed, May 2006
- American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recognizes MVHI for quality cardiac care through its Get With the Guidelines program, July 2006 and July 2007
¨ Atrial Fibrillation Ablation performed, the first in the area, December 2006
¨ Clearing the Air Award received for tobacco-use prevention on tobacco-free campuses, February 2007
- As of the 15th Anniversary there have been: 51,286 cardiac catheterizations; 18,046 angioplasty cases; 6,635 cardiac surgeries and 9,731 electrophysiology procedures (EP) and 86,634 outpatient cardiac rehab visits.
The unique collaboration between St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare through MVHI has not only helped thousands of patients and families, but has also spawned further cooperative efforts. The expertise of all MVHI staff – nursing, technical, and particularly physicians – has had a huge impact on the region’s patient care, and has made MVHI what it is today.
