Providence Hospitals Provides Behind the Scenes Look at Beating Open-Heart Surgery In-Person and Online

Columbia, S.C. (September 13, 2012) –Providence Hospitals along with South Carolina Heart Center, WIS-TV and the South Carolina State Museum are joining forces to provide the first behind the scenes look offered in the southeastern United States at a beating open-heart surgery.

The goal is to educate physicians, medical students, heart patients and South Carolina residents about the benefits of beating open-heart surgery as well as heart disease risk factors, prevention methods and symptoms.

“At Providence Hospitals, we perform approximately 650 open-heart procedures per year and on average more than 85 percent of those are done using the technique we are spotlighting at this event called beating-heart surgery,” said Edward “Mac” Leppard, M.D., Providence Hospitals Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon. “Beating-heart surgery means that the patient is never put on a heart and lung machine so his or her heart continues to beat while we are performing the procedure. Our outcomes, which place us in the top 15 percent of heart programs in the nation, are the evidence that this technique works for our team.”

The heart disease and beating open-heart surgery education campaign kicked off on Wednesday, September 12 with a TweetUp that shared a behind the scenes look at beating open-heart surgery through surgeon commentary and still photography. Social media users joined the conversation by following @ProvHospSC and #BeatingHeart on Twitter and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/providencehospitals, which are still active for the public to submit heart related questions.

On Thursday, September 20 from 7 to 8 p.m., all are invited to continue the conversation at Behind the Scenes with South Carolina’s Heart Hospital. The event will feature:

• WIS-TV Anchor Dawndy Mercer Plank,
• South Carolina Heart Center Cardiologist who will discuss heart disease and prevention,
• Interview with Dr. Leppard and a video presentation of a recent beating-heart surgery procedure,
• And a live Q&A with the live audience and social media followers.

Those interested in participating in the event can follow Providence Hospitals on Twitter @ProvHospSC and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProvidenceHospitals. Follow #BeatingHeart to join the conversation.

This event is free and open to the public both in person and online for registered users at http://bit.ly/BeatingHeartSurgery.  The live event will be held at the South Carolina State Museum auditorium located at 301 Gervais Street in Columbia, S.C.

About Providence Hospitals:
Providence Hospitals is the Midlands leading provider of cardiovascular and orthopaedic services.  Providence is composed of two hospitals, thirteen physician practices, a network of rehabilitation centers, three sleep centers, a school of cardiac diagnostics and is an accredited chest pain center. In total, Providence employs about 2,000 dedicated staff. 

Founded in 1938 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine, Providence is known state wide for outstanding clinical quality and compassionate care. The Providence open heart surgery program has ranked consistently in the top 15% of open-heart programs since 2006.  Both the orthopaedic and cardiac services have received the South Carolina BlueCross BlueShield center of distinction designation. 

For more information visit our web site at www.providencehospitals.com.
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