понедельник, 17 сентября 2012 г.

Pediatric Heart Transplants at Montefiore Approved by NY State Department of Health. - Heart Disease Weekly

The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) is bringing the medical miracle of pediatric heart transplantation to the Bronx, following the recent approval of its transplant center application by the New York State Department of Health. This important approval clears the way for specialists at CHAM, recently ranked among America's top children's hospitals, to treat any congenital or acquired heart abnormality in children and adolescents (see also Pediatric Cardiology).

'By adding pediatric heart transplantation to the full range of care we offer our youngest patients, we better meet the significant health needs of our Bronx community,' said Steven M. Safyer, MD, president and CEO, Montefiore Medical Center. 'The long-standing impact of social, economic and access-to- healthcare issues means children in the Bronx suffer from a disproportionate number of congenital heart abnormalities and other serious conditions. Now they have access to the high quality care they need right in their own community.'

CHAM's heart surgery team and heart center program are already established as among the most active in the region treating congenital and acquired heart defects in children. Key to addition of the new pediatric heart transplant capabilities was the recruitment of nationally renowned pediatric cardiologist Daphne Hsu, MD, who joined CHAM as Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and Co-Director of the Pediatric Heart Center. She was also appointed Professor of Pediatrics at Montefiore's affiliated medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein).

In addition to Dr. Hsu, several prominent specialists in pediatric cardiology have recently joined the Pediatric Heart Center team, including Jacqueline M. Lamour, MD, Director of Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Therapy; Robert H. Pass, MD, Director of Pediatric Electrophysiology and Director of Pediatric Interventional Cardiology; and, Leo Lopez, MD, Director of Pediatric Noninvasive Imaging.

'The new pediatric heart transplant program at CHAM and its acclaimed cardiology team are important milestones for both Montefiore and Einstein, ' said Allen M. Spiegel, MD, The Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. 'Dr. Daphne Hsu and her team are outstanding clinical investigators and national leaders in the study and treatment of pediatric heart disease and transplantation. Their presence here is a tangible demonstration of our joint efforts to strengthen the links between Einstein research and Montefiore medicine.'

'The pediatric heart transplant program and the addition of Dr. Hsu and her team greatly enhance our capabilities for treating any heart abnormality in children,' said Philip Ozuah, MD, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Montefiore Medical Center and Einstein and physician-in-chief at CHAM. 'The Children's Hospital at Montefiore has become a hospital of choice for patients and families from around the world seeking excellence and innovation in specialty care. Building one of America's finest children's hospitals in the Bronx reinforces Montefiore's commitment to improving the health of its community by offering our patients access to the highest quality care and services available anywhere in the world.'

A graduate of the Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Hsu was previously Associate Director of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Program at New York Presbyterian's Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, and Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Clinical Research at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) is one of the most clinically and technologically advanced children's hospitals in the U.S., providing innovative and specialized medical treatment for children from the New York- metropolitan area and around the world.

In 2008, The Children's ranks as one of 'America's Best Children's Hospitals' in US News & World Report's prestigious annual listing. Montefiore is ranked by the Leapfrog Group among the top one percent of all U.S. hospitals based on its strategic investments in sophisticated and integrated healthcare technology.

CHAM's pediatric specialists include nationally recognized experts in cardiac care, oncology, emergency medicine and critical care, as well as other clinical areas. Among the hospital's specialized services are the Pediatric Heart Center, where the most advanced cardiology and cardiac surgical treatments are available for infants and children; New York's only fully integrated cancer center for children and its only pediatric sickle cell center; and the complete range of surgical services, including a team of specialists in pediatric neurosurgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery, world-renowned as the first in history to successfully separate twins conjoined at the head without neurological damage.

The hospital also provides treatment programs including dedicated pediatric epilepsy and sleep disorders centers, one of the nation's leading adolescent AIDS programs, treatment for chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes, as well as dialysis, allergy/immunology and nephrology. The CHAM team's unique integration of clinical excellence, technology and education supports its guiding philosophy of providing family-centered care -- to treat the 'whole' child and his or her family. Working side-by-side with physicians are specially trained pediatric nurses, social workers, nutritionists and child life therapists who support the physical and emotional needs of children during the course of their medical treatment.

CHAM is also a key provider of community-based care through its network of 16 school-based clinics, the Child Advocacy Center for diagnosis and treatment of child abuse and neglect, a Safe House for lead poison prevention, mobile pediatric centers and other unique initiatives.

Keywords: Clinical Trial Research, Congenital Lobar Emphysema, Electrophysiology, Heart Defects, Heart Disease, Heart Surgery, Heart Transplant, Organ Transplant, Pediatric Cardiology, Physiology, Pulmonology, Therapy, Transplantation, Treatment, Montefiore Medical Center.

This article was prepared by Heart Disease Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Heart Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com.