Heart disease and stroke continue to be among the nation's leading killers. Each year, more than 34,000 people in South Florida die from heart disease, stroke or related illness. Since 1987, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute has taken a pioneering role in caring for people with health problems related to the heart and circulatory system. Fortunately for South Floridians, the Institute is right in their own backyard.
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Advancing Cardiovascular Care
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The Institute, one of the largest and most prestigious centers of its kind in the Southeast, has attracted leading physicians in a variety of specialties who work together to create a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular care. These physicians have introduced a range of less invasive procedures to treat aortic aneurysms and heart and circulatory disease, including an operation to repair a heart valve without opening up the rib cage. Interventional radiologists at the Institute are among the first to refine new procedures to prevent and treat stroke, such as placing stents, or tiny tubes, to prop open the arteries leading to the brain.
The Institute also features a world-class Neurointerventional Suite and special patient care units staffed by trained nurses, neurologists and neurosurgeons to meet the needs of neurological patients.
Your support for the Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute may be designated in a variety of areas such as technology, research, naming opportunities within BCVI, our Center for Excellence in Nursing or given to our general fund to help the Institute where the need is greatest. Every gift makes a difference and your gift could save lives.
Here are a few suggestions of how your gift might be used:
BCVI Conference Center ($2 million)
In the past decade, technology related to presentation and conferencing has become increasingly sophisticated. The ability to integrate video signals with computer presentations and radiographics has improved and become simpler.
One of the goals for the new BCVI Conference Center is to be able to attract physicians and other healthcare personnel to the Institute for educational activities. The Conference Room will hold a sufficient number of people to run conferences here at the Institute, however, it is extremely important that the highest quality audio/visual technology be available. This includes sophisticated audio, video, and computer facilities. Funding will ensure that the new BCVI Conference facility has the functionality and sophistication equivalent to the best centers, both in the region and nationally, such as the Cleveland Clinic, Jackson Memorial, and the Biltmore Conference Center.
BCVI Patient Care Center ($1.5 million)
In order to continue the Baptist Hospital and BCVI tradition of providing the highest quality care, the Institute constructed a state-of-the-art Patient Care Center (fourth floor) that is specifically designed to treat cardiovascular patients. The Patient Care Center includes the following:
• 51 inpatient beds.
• 29 outpatient, prep and recovery beds.
• Each room is equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment to support the highest level of care required for cardiovascular patients, including critical care.
• The nursing team is led by a case manager/care coordinator who manages the patient’s stay to provide the highest quality of care.
• Trained critical care nurses provide the highest level of nursing care.
• Patients stay in one room throughout their stay, which allow for one medical and nursing team to guide their stay.
• Advanced communications equipment enable patients to have immediate voice-access to their nurse.
• Through a television monitor, patients and their families will have access to the Internet, medical education and recently released videos.
• In patient rooms are designed for a family-friendly environment and can accommodate a family member who wished to stay with the patient overnight.
Cardiac Surgery Robotics Program ($1 million)
Baptist Hospital recently purchased a robot to support the cardiac surgery program. This is the latest technology available to advance clinical developments in cardiac surgery and has shown tremendous benefit in reducing length of stay and improving quality of life immediately after surgery for open-heart patients.
However, additional needs already exist to support the development of this program. Extensive research will occur with regard to new techniques in robotic assisted cardiac surgery. The Robots will also be used for Chest and Urologic surgery once the training of our surgeons and staff takes place. Other new devices will be developed that are costly since the Robotics program is not one piece of equipment, but a program of many prototypes and we continue to build on this technological base. With capital expected to be increasingly limited in the future, funding will support expanded program needs.
Nursing Command Post ($250,000)
The nursing command post is the pulse of the Patient Care Center where admission, flow and discharge is managed for patients. This area has all the monitoring equipment for all patients’ vital signs and also contains video-monitors for various areas of the Patient Care Center and is strategically located in the heart of the 81-bed unit.
Barry T. Katzen Medical Director Endowment Fund (Various Levels)
Established in 2007, this endowment not only recognizes Dr. Barry Katzen’s work in the forefront of multidisciplinary cardiovascular care, but also honors the accomplishments of the Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute since it opened in 1987. According to Cook Medical, who made a multi million dollar gift to establish the endowment, President Kem Hawkins said, “It’s an honor to be able to support this director position and chair that recognizes the excellence of a unique individual and institution.” I’m incredibly honored, humbled and grateful to Cook Medical for its philanthropy, which will make possible the Institute’s ongoing leadership in and commitment to multidisciplinary cardiovascular care,” said Dr. Katzen, founder and medical director of the Institute.
Baptist Health President and CEO Brian Keeley, said, “This endowment will ensure that the Institute’s high quality care and clinical research will continue.” “It’s a testament to the leadership that Dr. Katzen has provided in bringing together a strong team who continuously develops less invasive treatments for cardiovascular disease,“ said Bo Boulenger, CEO of Baptist Hospital. Physicians from 20 medical and surgical specialties joined forces to offer the Institute’s comprehensive approach to cardiovascular care, a model emulated by many institutions throughout the United States and Europe. The Institute, which has more than 120,000 patient visits each year, celebrated its 20th anniversary in November 2007.
Center for Excellence in Nursing
Donations to the Center are used for the education and development of the nursing staff, to award outstanding nurses for their contributions to the profession, to send students through nursing school and to improve patient care with nurse-approves equipment and programs.
Contact Us
If you would like more information on the naming opportunities available, or how to make a donation, please call Stephen J. Parsons, CFRE, at the Foundation office at 786-596-6535, or send an e-mail to giving@baptisthealth.net.
Please see our Planned Giving Calculator to give you an estimate of the potential benefit you might derive from your gift.
For a calendar of upcoming Foundation events, click here.