Technological advances in the field of cardiology have not reduced cardiology-related mortality in this region, he said. For instance, the death rate from cardiovascular disease in Bon Secours-Holy Family's service area is 16.2 percent higher than Pennsylvania's. Also, the heart disease death rate is 15.9 percent higher than Pennsylvania's. This is in spite of the fact that, in recent years, no field of medicine has undergone more change, had such an impact on improving the quality of life and affected so significant a portion of the population as cardiology. As technological improvements are made, procedures that were once performed only at major medical centers are now performed daily at community hospitals such as Bon Secours-Holy Family.
Cardiology is in transition.
Some experts believe that the need for traditional open heart surgery will decline. Less invasive, less costly and less traumatic interventions are being used, and even more are on the horizon. However, now as in the future, open heart capabilities are needed for patients who are not appropriate candidates for less-invasive procedures and as a backup to any invasive cardiac procedure. Because cardiology has seen significant advancements in recent years and more are expected, our new program will immediately offer the latest technology and procedures available, Biehner concluded. And we will stay right there on the cutting edge.