Scotland Health Care System and FirstHealth of the Carolinas have partnered to enhance cardiovascular services for the communities the two health care systems serve.

For over ten years, Laurinburg’s cardiologists have partnered with FirstHealth to provide cardiac catheterizations, an important heart disease diagnostic tool. ”Scotland Health Care System’s partnership with FirstHealth of the Carolinas to provide cardiac catheterizations is now taking a giant leap forward,” commented Board Chairman, retired superior court judge Craig Ellis. “The two health care systems entered into a joint venture to build a Cardiovascular Center at Scotland Memorial, with the project receiving final approval earlier this spring from our Board of Trustees.”

The new Cardiovascular Center is under construction in the outpatient wing of Scotland Memorial and should be complete by the end of this year.

Dr. Matthew Block, board certified cardiologist, says he is delighted the project is now underway. “I am thankful that the health care system board decided to make this substantial investment in cardiology and vascular services.  It will definitely help to provide improved care to our patients and, I believe, help the hospital grow and remain successful as a community-owned health care system.”

Dr. Jide Lawal, a fellow of the American College of Cardiology on the medical staffs of both Scotland Health Care System and FirstHealth, looks forward to the new level of service the fixed cath lab will accommodate.

“The new cardiovascular center at Scotland Memorial hospital in collaboration with Firsthealth will be a great addition to the healthcare delivery to the people of Scotland, Robeson, and Marlboro counties, “Dr. Lawal said. “It is another step in the pursuit of excellence for healthcare delivery by the hospital management and it is a testimony to the efforts of the Board of Scotland Health Care System in achieving these goals. What better partner to have than FirstHealth of the Carolinas, which is already known for its state of the art cardiovascular care. I am delighted to be part of it and looking forward to seeing how this transforms our community.”

Vascular surgeons Doctors Clinton Atkinson, Joel Berman, and Lorraine Berman of Carolinas Vascular Associates, now perform diagnostic and interventional vascular procedures in Scotland Memorial’s operating room several days each week.  The new Center will expand their scope of service as well as the number of days vascular procedures can be provided.  Dr. Atkinson commented, “We plan to provide a full range of percutaneous diagnostic and therapeutic services in the Cardiovascular Center.  These services will be similar to those performed at any major medical center.”

“FirstHealth’s new Reid Heart Center provides 24/7 coverage for acute cases that require percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft, procedures which aren’t provided at Scotland Memorial,” said Dr. John Krahnert, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at FirstHealth. “This joint venture with our state-of-the-art heart and vascular institute, Reid Heart Center, and Scotland Memorial Hospital creates seamless cardiovascular care and continues the twenty year tradition of saving Scotland County lives.”

Why partner with FirstHealth of the Carolinas for a fixed cardiovascular center?  “Because FirstHealth is excellent at providing cardiovascular care, and, because our relationship has been so very successful,” stated Ellis. “Our Cardiovascular Center is a unique opportunity to tap into the expertise of FirstHealth to enhance and increase cardiovascular care in Scotland County.”

Hospital officials describe the Cardiovascular Center as a win-win situation for the community and the health care system. “Coordinating care to make sure patients in our communities receive the best care and at the best location has always been the right thing to do,” said Greg Wood, Scotland Health Care System’s President and CEO. “When possible, we want to keep patients close to home for the majority of their cardiovascular needs.”

Heart disease is the number one killer in our region and the North Carolina Prevention Partners, a state agency, says Sandhills residents fair worse than the state average.

Nationwide, on average in 2007 there was a cardiac-related death every four days. Scotland Memorial Hospital statistics show that that one out of five emergency room visits have some sort of cardiac issue from either chest pain or high blood pressure.

If you would like more information about the Cardiovascular Center at Scotland Memorial, please call 910-291-7550.