Portneuf Heart & Vascular Center in Pocatello, Idaho Reports Strong Start

One year ago Portneuf Medical Center expanded into full Heart and Vascular services. Now the new program is sharing details of its success in the operating room.

Pocatello, ID (PRWEB) November 7, 2005 -- One year ago Portneuf Medical Center expanded into full Heart and Vascular services. Now the new program is sharing details of its success in the operating room.

Since last November, Portneuf’s Heart & Vascular Center has treated approximately 350 patients needing interventional procedures like angioplasty or stenting as well as those needing invasive cardio-thoracic surgery including bypass, valve surgery, and aortic surgery. Prior to the opening of Portneuf’s program last Fall, patients requiring these procedures were sent elsewhere for treatment, often out of state to Utah or to Idaho Falls.

The highly touted open-heart program headed by Cariothoracic Surgeon Dr. Jacob DeLaRosa has completed over 100 cases and is boasting a strong record--of zero mortality. DeLaRosa attributes the success to technology, the clinical expertise of his team and the hospital’s commitment to top-notch care. He says, “in this first year our emphasis has been on quality, not quantity. We wanted to build a program of excellence that could compete on the same level as some of the best in the country. It’s what the people of Southeast Idaho deserve.” DeLaRosa was recruited by PMC from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Emory is rated as one of the Top 10 cardiac centers in the nation.

Cardiologist Ben Call, a Pocatello native helped develop the program.

He says, “Quality has been our guiding light from day one. Based on our experience this first year we are looking forward to expanding our outreach to include patients with more advanced disease. This is a great milestone for Southeast Idaho."

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