Milestones and Achievements
The year at Deborah started off with a major medical milestone reached. Deborah’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. Lynn McGrath surpassed the 10,000th open heart surgery mark, a milestone achieved during his 22-year career at Deborah. It cannot be overstated what a remarkable achievement this is. Dr. McGrath’s milestone has placed him among a very few select cardiothoracic surgeons IN THE WORLD to have achieved this goal. So few surgeons can claim this distinction, it is an extraordinary badge of honor. Dr. McGrath’s accomplishment is an enormous credit to his work ethic and skill. His milestone came early in 2006, and set the standard for a remarkable year of medical achievements at Deborah. Added to this milestone was Dr. McGrath once again being voted a “Top Doc” in the Delaware Valley by both Philadelphia Magazine and New Jersey Monthly.

On the heels of Dr. McGrath’s achievement came word that the American Heart Association (AHA) had recognized Deborah as one of the best hospitals in the country. Deborah was among the top eleven hospitals in the United States, and the only one in New Jersey, to be recognized for a sustained achievement award under the “Get with the Guidelines, Coronary Artery Disease” program, a quality improvement designed to reduce the risk of heart attacks. What this means is that Deborah embraced the AHA’s protocols for good care, meeting the criteria set for patient well-being. Each year Deborah has met or exceeded these standards. Because the hospital has continued its tradition of quality care, the AHA singled it out for this prestigious award. It is a national honor that the hospital is proud of. But it was not just the AHA that distinguished Deborah. It was also New Jersey’s Department of Health and Senior Services, whose annual review of quality accepted standards ranked Deborah as one of the top hospitals in the state for treating patients with heart failure and heart attacks. These awards reaffirm what the Deborah team already knows – it’s a great hospital, with great care.

Other notable honors for Deborah this past year were:
• The Jackson Survey – 1st place for in-patient satisfaction and 2nd place in employee satisfaction (medium-hospital category)
• Quality Respiratory Care Award from the American Association of Respiratory Care

2006 was a time to consolidate AND expand. Dr. Augustine Agocha was named Chair of Cardiology; Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine; and Medical Director, Outpatient Services, bringing his insight and management skills to tie together cardiology and outpatient services in a seamless continuum. Under his guidance Deborah launched two successful clinics for Congestive Heart Failure and Diabetes. The Heart Failure program addresses the leading cause of hospitalization in the U.S., with more than 5 million Americans suffering from the disease, and more than 500,000 new diagnoses a year. Deborah’s program offers specialized, comprehensive care combining prescription drug therapy, electromechanical device therapy, catheterizations, and surgery.

Likewise the Diabetic Heart and Vascular Disease Program blends all the current knowledge and skills of internists, cardiologists, vascular medicine, vascular surgery specialists, pharmacists, and nutritionists in combatting a growing national problem with significant health impact. Deborah’s proactive approach to this disease is designed to attack diabetes before the patient is seriously ill.

In another first, Deborah’s Women’s Initiative launched under the guidance of Dr. Dawn Calderon. It has already begun visibly shaping this extremely important emerging area of medicine. Recognizing that women present different symptoms and interact with doctors differently than men, Deborah has taken a proactive approach in bringing female doctors on board in every cardiac sub-specialty at the hospital. With heart disease the leading killer of American women, Deborah is confident that the groundwork laid in the Women’s Initiative will have a long-lasting, and positive impact on women’s health in our community.
Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s new Sleep Lab directed by Dr. Dana Supe opened in 2006 to stunning accolades. The state-of-the-art facility moved to another side of the hospital campus in a quieter, more relaxed setting, offering hotel-like accommodations, and the least intrusive monitoring system available, so that Deborah’s sleep technicians can most accurately record the patient sleeping. Deborah’s integrated medical approach can then offer the best treatment options to manage sleep disorders.

Deborah’s pulmonology department also shone in the spotlight last year, as a well-attended off-site conference in Philadelphia, “Breathe, Beat, Bug,” drew professionals from throughout the Delaware Valley to learn from Deborah’s panel of experts about heart, lung, and infection control issues. As well Respiratory Services was noted for cutting in half secondary infection rates from pneumonias associated with ventilator use from the prior year. Reducing these infections cuts in-patient hospital stay time, the overall cost, and patient risk.

Pulmonology Department Chair Dr. David Murphy had his professional opinion heavily sought in 2006, as he shared Deborah’s considerable expertise in treating 9/11 Ground Zero emergency workers’ respiratory problems. As the nation recognized the tragedy's fifth anniversary, the concurrent health problems that have plagued the rescue workers have moved to the center of a national forum. Dr. Murphy and Deborah have been in the front lines helping these brave men and women as they deal with their health complications.

Electrophysiology (EPS) also had its share of moments. Dr. Raffaele Corbisiero’s pioneering research work on a new computer program, QuickOpt™, came to fruition this year, as it received FDA approval and hit the market. The program allows optimization of a patient’s implanted device without the time and expense of having an echocardiogram each time it needs to be done. Dr. Corbisiero’s research offered Deborah patients first access to this new technology. A successful symposium, “Emerging Heart Failure Therapy,” was well-attended and drew area practitioners who learned about the integration of cardiology, EPS, and cardiac surgery in identifying and treating heart failure. In addition, Dr. Magdy Migeed joined the department as Director of Arrhythmia Services, bolstering the staff as the hospital aggressively positions EPS for future market growth.

Deborah’s Vascular Surgery Division’s first full year was very successful with a second vascular surgeon, Dr. Kane Chang, joining the team. Dr. Gabor Winkler, Vascular Surgery’s Director, led Deborah as it coalesced an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm program into one-stop care management. This will address the more than 15,000 Americans who die each year from this “silent killer.” The department is well situated to use the most sophisticated imaging tools in diagnosing and treating AAAs, and when surgery is necessary, Dr. Winkler and his staff are well-versed in both the traditional open repair and the less invasive endovascular repairs. Once again, patients are the beneficiary of this new technology.

Under the guidance of Dr. Manu Rajachandran, the hospital’s Endovascular Medicine Department continued treating patients suffering from a variety of conditions, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a crippling condition that affects the arteries in the pelvis and legs. Treatment options now include two new devices – Silverhawk® Plaque Excision System and Outback™ Re-Entry Catheter – both of which offer exciting new options for plaque removal in the arteries and minimally invasive alternatives to surgery.

Another highlight in 2006 was Deborah having the privilege of hosting two children from Iraq, who traveled from Baghdad to Browns Mills for life-saving heart repairs. The youngsters captured the hearts of the staff here and both the Americans and Iraqis parted with a greater appreciation of each other’s culture. The youngsters drew enormous media attention to the hospital, and our medical team had a wonderful opportunity to showcase their exceptional talents for a national audience.

At Deborah Hospital Foundation, the staff welcomed a new leader, Jay S. Hadley, who was appointed as Chief Operating Officer. Hadley brings with him over 30 years of fundraising experience from the United Way, the National World War II Memorial, and various other organizations. He fills a spot that has long been vacant, and the Foundation staff welcomes his new leadership and energy. In other areas, 2006 marked a number of notables at the Foundation, including the first ever Red Tie Gala, which both as a fundraiser and public awareness event was extremely successful. It was the first time the Foundation hosted a formal charity ball, and it was a terrific opportunity for friends, colleagues, and Deborah supporters to gather together as well as bring the Foundation message to a wider audience.

The Foundation’s Special Events staff hosted one of its largest events in twenty years, with a Children of the World® Humanitarian Award Dinner Dance honoring one of Deborah’s major supporters, Ivan M. Baron, a partner and general counsel of Roseland Property Company. In addition, a lifestyle event, Highway to Healthcare® roared into its second successful run, drawing over 600 motorcyclists out for a 40-mile plus rallly and day-long event in support of Deborah. It was an awe-inspiring sight to see the Deborah parking lot full of bikers on a beautiful summer morning. The Development Department tirelessly continued tracking down corporate and private donors who are sympathetic to Deborah’s cause. That coupled with the tireless Chapter volunteers who painstakingly raise funds day after day to help with those who need care, truly infuse the halls of the Center with love and gratitude.
We celebrate our achievements in 2006 and we look forward to continuing our mission for medical greatness folded into the compassion of an institution that truly cares for the health and well-being of its patients.