MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – Officials at West Virginia University Hospitals-East’s City Hospital celebrated the opening of a new 12,000 square foot cardiac catheterization lab today with a ribbon cutting ceremony co-hosted by the Martinsburg Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce.
The project represents phase two of the regional health system’s strategic initiative to establish a comprehensive cardiovascular program in the Eastern Panhandle. In June 2009, WVUH-East launched phase one of the new service when a temporary cath lab opened offering diagnostic catheterizations only.
“Over the past 18 months, our cardiologists have successfully performed over 250 diagnostic cardiac catheterizations at City Hospital,” stated Anthony P. Zelenka, chief administrative officer.
In June, a Certificate of Need (CON) was filed with the West Virginia Health Care Authority requesting permission to expand the hospital’s current diagnostic cardiac cath lab to offer treatment options including elective primary coronary intervention (PCI) and emergent therapeutic cardiac catheterization (STEMI) services. A ruling on the CON application is expected at any time.
If approved, City Hospital will be able to fulfill plans to establish a comprehensive cardiovascular program in the Eastern Panhandle by early January 2011. According to Zelenka, the new fully equipped cath lab will arm the hospital’s cardiologists with state-of-the art digital equipment to perform procedures that can identify and treat heart disease.
Neal S. Gaither, MD, FACC, FSCAI, a cardiologist with University Cardiovascular Associates and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at West Virginia University, is the medical director of WVUH-East’s cardiovascular services at City Hospital. Gaither is a Fellow of both the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiac Angioplasty and Interventions.
“The new interventional and diagnostic catheterization lab will bring advanced technology to the Eastern Panhandle,” Gaither said. “WVUH-East is significantly enhancing our capabilities as cardiologists to diagnose and treat heart disease while giving patients the choice of staying here in Martinsburg for the majority of their cardiology needs,” he added.
University Cardiovascular Associates opened an office in the Medical Arts Building on the City Hospital campus earlier this year. The group includes eight board certified cardiologists who work in the Martinsburg office as well as their Winchester office, the Cardiovascular Group at Selma.
“WVUH-East is very fortunate to have a dedicated and skilled cardiac cath lab staff and cardiologists,” stated Zelenka. “By opening our new lab with these added capabilities, WVUH-East will provide a critical health care need for the first time to the communities we serve in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties,” Zelenka added.
WVUH-East is a regional, not-for-profit, healthcare system established in January 2005 to serve West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. The system includes City Hospital, Jefferson Memorial Hospital and all of their affiliates. WVUH-East’s parent company, West Virginia University Hospitals in Morgantown, is a member of the Fairmont-based West Virginia United Health System, the state’s largest healthcare network.
WVUH-East and local officials participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new cath lab at City Hospital. Left to right: Tina Combs, Dr. Dawn Jones, Dr. Neal Gaither, Anthony Zelenka, Rick Pill, Rhonda Monroe, Lynnette Dalton and Max Parkinson.
Tina Combs – President & CEO, Martinsburg Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Dawn Jones – President, City Hospital Medical Staff
Dr. Neal Gaither – Medical Director, Cardiovascular Services at City Hospital
Anthony Zelenka – Chief Administrative Officer, City Hospital
Rick Pill – Chairman, WVUH-East Board of Directors
Rhonda Monroe – National Spokesperson, WomenHeart & WVUH-East Board of Directors
Lynnette Dalton, RN – Director, Cardiovascular Services at City Hospital
Max Parkinson – Martinsburg City Council