THE HEART CENTER

The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center: An Affiliate of Duke University Health System

The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center is the first cardiovascular surgery program affiliated with Duke University Health System in the state of Florida and only one of four nationwide. The 21st Century Campaign for Indian River Medical Center intends to fully fund The Heart Center and its affiliated services through philanthropy by 2010. The Heart Center accounts for 50% of the Foundation's campaign goal.

The Heart Center welcomed its first cardiovascular surgery patients in Fall 2006 and in a short time has made a tremendous impact on our community. In its evaluation of the first 50 cases, the Duke team stated that The Heart Center at Indian River Medical Center had exceeded the goals set by Duke for its affiliated heart programs, demonstrating high standards for heart surgery, angioplasty procedures and program operations.

Prior to opening The Heart Center, Duke and Indian River Medical Center conducted an operational assessment to measure the hospital's readiness to meet or exceed the Duke requirements for its affiliate programs. Indian River Medical Center expanded its current physical plant to incorporate new surgical services and operating rooms to support the new Duke University-affiliated Cardiovascular Surgery Program now known as The Heart Center. This portion of the Master Facility Plan construction was completed in fall 2006. A team from Duke and a group of Duke-affiliated cardiovascular surgeons reviewed and approved the Indian River Medical Center plan, and then worked side by side with Indian River Medical Center to ensure the medical delivery system was fully prepared to integrate the expansion into cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology.

The world class medical team, led by Dr. Cary Stowe as Medical Director of Cardiovascular Surgery and Dr. Jay Midwall as Medical Director of Interventional Cardiology, is exceptional. The medical directors of The Heart Center have clinical appointments to Duke University and serve on the Duke faculty in addition to their appointment at Indian River Medical Center. Clearly the Duke affiliation will further enhance the high levels of care throughout all of Indian River Medical Center with the quality control it provides.