“First, evaluate all the facts. Then, look at the hospital philosophy. Finally, look at the people—who’s there and who will be taking care of you. I had confidence in the doctors at NorthShore and their assistants. I felt like I was getting the right responses very quickly, and I knew I would receive the highest quality care.”
Salman Bokhari of Hong Kong, a heart bypass surgery patient who selected NorthShore because of the international reputation of its heart specialists and its outstanding outcomes.
Every 35 seconds, someone dies from cardiovascular disease, a condition that affects more than 70 million Americans and continues to be the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. To address this major health threat, the Cardiovascular Care Center (CVCC) offers comprehensive, coordinated care—from prevention through cardiac rehabilitation—as it advances research efforts to find better ways to diagnose and treat patients with cardiovascular disease.
Patients at the CVCC have access to an extensive range of services, including:
- advanced diagnostic imaging tests
- minimally invasive cardiac catheterization procedures
- electrophysiology treatments
- leading-edge cardiac surgery
- The Women’s Heart Program.
The Center brings together a multidisciplinary team of internationally renowned clinical cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. It has pioneered advanced cardiac catheterization techniques to help fight heart disease and is a world leader in treating leaking mitral heart valves, which control the flow of blood through the heart, with catheter-based therapy. NorthShore’s interventional cardiologist’s pioneered many of the now-standard procedures and therapies related to the diagnosis and treatment of adults with cardiac problems. Our cardiologists care for patients with the most complex heart conditions.
“Whether they need open-heart surgery, cardiac catheterization or other leading-edge treatments, patients can maintain their relationship with their primary care physician who is familiar with their medical history and is able to continue to be a critical part of their care team,” said Timothy A. Sanborn, M.D., Head, Division of Cardiology.
“The Cardiovascular Care Center has a legacy of providing quality care. Our patients benefit tremendously when they need specialized cardiac care and choose to stay within the NorthShore system,” said John C. Alexander, Jr., M.D., Head of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Program.
Research and Clinical Trials
Patients have the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking clinical trials for new treatment options that could improve their outcomes. For instance, one study involves a non-surgical procedure previously not available to patients with advanced coronary artery disease. NorthShore is one of only 12 sites in the country and the only site in Illinois participating in this study.
Under the leadership of Ted Feldman, M.D., Director of Cardiac Catheterization, and the Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Walgreen Jr. Chair of Cardiology, NorthShore also is conducting a clinical trial to explore the link between stroke and a tiny opening in the heart. The REDUCE research study is one of more than 600 clinical trials currently underway at the NorthShore Research Institute.
Dr. Feldman is committed to advancing clinical research in order to provide less invasive treatments for patients whose only options have been surgery or to offer alternatives for patients with no options from which to choose. Currently, he is developing two promising nonsurgical medical devices: the MitraClip®, which helps patients avoid open heart surgery, and the Watchman®, a device that could replace blood thinners for many patients with atrial fibrillation. These devices could transform the treatment of common, but life-threatening, heart ailments and save hundreds of lives. They could become the gold standard procedures of tomorrow.
Jian-Ping Jin, M.D., Ph.D., Section Chief of Molecular Cardiology, is studying gene regulation and biochemistry related to cardiac muscle function. By understanding how protein changes affect certain heart functions, researchers will be able to find new avenues for treating heart failure, cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease. Findings from Dr. Jin’s research could open the door to new diagnostic techniques and medications that help the heart contract more efficiently and relieve or prevent heart disease.
Making a Difference through Philanthropy
Salman Bokhari lived due to the high-quality care he received at NorthShore—and from philanthropic support that improves patient care and advances scientific discoveries. In fact, philanthropy has been integral to helping NorthShore University HealthSystem improve the breadth, depth and quality of patient care, academic medical education and research services we collectively provide to the communities throughout northern Illinois and beyond. Nowhere is the impact of philanthropy more evident than in the high-quality Cardiovascular Care services we provide throughout our communities.
Moving forward, philanthropy will make a critical difference in clinical research initiatives, such as continuing to develop and refine the MitraClip® and Watchman® devices and finding new ways to diagnose and treat heart disease.
To learn more about how you can support the Cardiovascular Care Center and its related programs, please contact Walt Cody, Director of Philanthropy, NorthShore Foundation, at 224.364.7204, wcody@northshore.org.