AUSTIN, TX - (September 2, 2009) - In 1986, the region's only Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center was established at Seton Medical Center Austin, a member of the Seton Family of Hospitals. Since the founding of the center, 303 heart transplants have been performed, with the latest surgery on Aug. 17.
Charlotte Thrasher, COO,Seton Medical Center Austin and Dr. Michael Mueller, Surgical Director, Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center, show off VAD Destination Therapy certification.
"Twenty-three years ago, this program started with just two surgeons and two administrative staff members," said Dr. Michael Mueller, surgical director, Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center. "Over the years, it has grown to an unprecedented level of support from clinical staff, administrators and surgeons. This growth has allowed us to offer the absolute best care and successfully lengthen the lifespan of hundreds of patients and also to improve the quality of life for them and their families."
The team at the Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center typically performs from 12 and 22 heart transplants annually.
Seton Medical Center Austin has the only heart transplant center and VAD program in Central Texas. Earlier this year, the Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center received its Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Destination Therapy certification from The Joint Commission. This certification was achieved the first time the Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center applied for the designation.
Out of the 552 patients seen in the clinic, 325 are seen for heart failure. Currently, seven of those individuals are living with a VAD. These VADs are essentially mechanical pumps and help a heart that is too weak to pump blood through the body. The VAD is sometimes referred to as "a bridge to transplant" as it often can help a patient survive until a heart transplant can be performed.
"This is an extraordinary achievement for our transplant program and Central Texas," said Dr. William (Bill) Kessler, VAD surgical director, Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center. "Destination therapy stands to revolutionize advanced heart failure management, allowing individuals who are not transplant candidates better and longer lives."
Seton's VAD Outreach Coordinator Erin August, RN, BSN, has trained medical teams at four medical centers in Texas to care for VAD patients.
"It was so worthwhile and fulfilling to pass the torch to another medical center so eager to become yet another part of their care team," August said. "It also demonstrates the long-term objective of the technology by letting the patient have a better quality of life not only by increased activity. but also by being able to do all the things they enjoy within the comfort of their own home, no matter where the patients 'homes' are."
For more information on the Seton Heart Specialty Care
and Transplant Center, visit www.seton.net/heart.
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the