News

Beebe Medical Center Ranked #1 in Delaware for Coronary Interventional Procedures

11/03/10

"Beebe Medical Center's interventional cardiology program, based upon clinical results during its first three years of existence, rocketed to becoming the highest ranked program in Delaware, according to Healthgrades, a leading independent healthcare ratings organization.
Healthgrades, in its 2011 rankings, gave Beebe's interventional cardiology program a 5-star rating for coronary interventional procedures, and rated the program as #1 in Delaware for coronary interventional procedures, based upon clinical outcomes from October 2006 to September 2009.
It is a very satisfying feeling, both personally and professionally, to provide this heart and life-saving service to our community, says Dr. Ehtasham Qureshi, Medical Director of Beebe's Cardiac Catheterization laboratory and Coronary/Peripheral Vascular Interventions. Our patients deserve it, and our team-work and commitment to the program has culminated into the safest, and in my opinion, the best program in the State of Delaware.
Beebe has performed more than 5,000 diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization procedures since 2006, including more than 1,200 interventional procedures such as angioplasty and stents.
I congratulate all the team members on this well-deserved achievement, Dr. Qureshi said.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the number one killer of patients in the United States and the western world. An aging population and rampant diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol all contribute towards clogging of heart arteries resulting in a myocardial infarction or heart attack. A heart attack can cause permanent damage to heart muscle with devastating long-term result, i.e., if the patients are lucky to survive it.
Sussex County has a high prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) due to the age of the population, high incidence of smoking, and other risk factors. Previously, patients with a heart attack or those who required a study of their heart arteries with an angiogram or heart catheterization procedure were sent to other hospitals.
With a growing need in the community, Beebe Medical Center planned, invested, and executed its ambitious interventional cardiology program in 2006. Patients with blocked heart arteries could be accommodated with immediate or scheduled procedures. Within three years, the program expanded to add two board certified interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons.
The meticulous hard work and success of the program has become evident with its recognition by Healthgrades. Beebe Medical Center's 5-Star Rating recognizes the expertise, compassion and dedication of its interventional cardiologists Drs. Ehtasham Qureshi and Mouhanad Freih, as well as Dr. Stephanie Goodwin who formerly practiced in the community.
The interventional cardiologists at Beebe Medical Center are available around the clock to immediately take care of patients with a heart attack. They are quickly taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory where highly trained cardiologists can perform the sophisticated and very high-risk procedure of opening up the clogged artery, thus restoring blood flow to heart muscle and save valuable tissue.
The national average time from entry to the emergency department and opening up the clogged artery is required to be less than 90 minutes. At Beebe, the average time is just under 60 minutes. The program has been providing coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, since November 2008.
Nearly 5000 hospital across the country were included in the survey conducted by the Healthgrades among over 40 million Medicare hospitalization records.
We are extremely proud to have received this recognition, says Jeffrey Fried, President and CEO of Beebe Medical Center. We started our interventional cardiology program in late 2006 to meet the growing needs of our community. We knew that we would be saving lives by providing this service in our area. The Healthgrades recognition reflects the quality of our program and our skillful team led by the interventional medical director Dr Ehtasham Qureshi.
Beebe Medical Center's interventional program is a comprehensive collaboration between the Emergency Department, dedicated cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses and staff, the Intensive Care Unit and dedicated cardiac units as well as an expert team of interventional cardiologists. There is full time availability of cardiothoracic surgery for higher risk patients as well as an accredited cardiac rehabilitation program.
Dr. Qureshi further stated that this recognition by Healthgrades is just the beginning of establishing a strong program in Sussex County where patients will be treated in a timely, professional, effective and safe manner for generations to come.

More information on the Health Grades study and methodology can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

Caption: Healthgrades, in its 2011 rankings, gave Beebe's interventional cardiology program a 5-star rating for coronary interventional procedures, and rated the program as #1 in Delaware for coronary interventional procedures, based upon clinical outcomes from October 2006 to September 2009. Pictured here, a coronary interventional procedure is being performed in Beebe's Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

Caption: Ehtasham Qureshi, MD, Interventional Cardiologist and Medical Director of Beebe's Cardiac Catheterization laboratory and Coronary/Peripheral Vascular Interventions.

Caption: Mouhanad Freih, MD, Interventional Cardiologist at Beebe Medical Center


Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebemed.org


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