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Heart Cath Lab Opens at Newton Medical Center
Construction begins at Newton Medical Center on a $3 million catheterization facility on the Newton Medical Center campus.
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The heart cath lab will be equipped and operated by a newly formed for-profit entity, Newton Cardiac Services, with four owners: cardiologists Hossein Amirani, MD, and Saad Farhat, M.D.; Via Christi Health System; and Newton Medical Center.
Once complete, the catheterization laboratory will make it possible for patients who live in Harvey County and the surrounding area and need cardiac and vascular diagnostic and interventional procedures to have them performed in or nearer their home community.
“We polled our medical staff leadership, and these services were consistently in the top tier of identified community needs,” said Newton Medical Center president and CEO Steve Kelly. A feasibility study also supports the need for these services in Newton.
In addition, Kelly said, Via Christi Health System’s involvement helps make it possible for the community’s needs for quality healthcare services to be met in a safe and cost-effective manner, and that patients will experience a seamless continuum of the highest quality care and convenience.
“Our goal is to help other hospitals build their services so that people can receive care close to home,” said Randy Peterson, senior vice president for regional operations for Via Christi Health System. “This agreement helps accomplish that for the people of Newton and further extends our positive working relationship with Newton Medical Center.”
Marjorie Warta, chair of the NMC board of directors, said the services offered by the hospital are strengthened by this collaborative relationship.
“I have had the opportunity to see patients in our clinic in Newton for the past few years,” Said Dr. Amirani. “It increasingly became evident that there was a need for a cardiac cath lab in the area to provide complete cardiac care to the Newton community and surrounding areas. I am delighted to be involved with this venture and I look forward to serving patients with the highest standards of care and the newest technology available."
Saad Farhat, MD, who has been treating patients at Advanced Cardiac Care of Kansas in NMC’s Medical Office Plaza for nearly four years, also maintains a Wichita practice.
The structure, designed by the architectural firm WDM, will be located adjacent to the hospital’s main entrance, 600 Medical Center Drive. Construction by Hutton Construction Company is expected to be completed by January 2009.
Approximately half of the project's estimated cost is for the building that will house Newton Cardiac Services, and the rest to acquire the Phillips catheterization equipment it will house. It will be open for use by any credentialed cardiologist, said Kelly.
“We invite them to use this new facility,” Kelly added.
Depending on their particular health insurance plan, patients may contact a cardiologist directly or may need to get a referral from their primary care physician.
An experienced team of skilled registered nurses and radiologic technologists will be managed on site by Tom Wells, the director of NMC’s Imaging Department.
Newton Medical Center is a comprehensive 103-bed hospital in Newton, Kan., offering full-service medical care in Harvey County and surrounding areas. For more information about Newton Medical Center, please call (316) 283-2700 or visit www.newtonmedicalcenter.com.
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