From left, Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute Vice Chairman, Strategic Operations Dr. Suma Thomas; Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute Chairman Dr. Lars Svensson; Deborah President and CEO Joseph Chirichella; and Deborah Vice President Medical Affairs Dr. Lynn McGrath. – DEBORAH HEART AND LUNG CENTER
Deborah Heart and Lung Center announced on Thursday that it is now a clinical affiliate of the Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute.
“This clinical affiliation is one part of our strategic plan that will continue Deborah’s mission of maintaining the highest standards of quality cardiac care to our patients,” said Joseph Chirichella, president and chief executive officer of Deborah Heart and Lung Center.
Chirichella said that with Deborah’s recent recognition by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons as a top 7 percent program in the nation for surgical outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgeries, the affiliation will sustain these high standards.
“Management of heart disease is complex, and working together on programs like this help advance the treatment of cardiovascular disease to benefit our communities,” said Dr. Lars Svensson, chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s Heart & Vascular Institute. “Our affiliation with Deborah Heart and Lung Center will allow for sharing of best practices, while working together to ensure the highest quality care to Deborah’s patients.”
According to Deborah, the affiliation is mutually beneficial, enhancing opportunities to provide new treatments and therapies to patients, as well as exploring cutting-edge technologies and techniques in cardiac and vascular care that will accelerate advances in treatments.
The Cleveland Clinic affiliate program was launched in 2003. With the addition of Deborah, the affiliate network includes 12 hospitals across the country. As affiliates, both Deborah and the Cleveland Clinic remain independent, with no changes in control of physicians or staff.
