Several members of RWJUH Hamilton’s cardiac partners, Hamilton Cardiology Associates, joined the kick-off for the new cath lab. Pictured from left to right are Edward A. Wingfield, MD; Ronald G. Ryder, DO; Mahmoud Ghusson, MD; and Jay Patel, MD.
Hamilton, N.J. (January 26, 2024) - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, recently kicked off construction to increase access to heart and vascular services through a new 5,500 square foot, state-of-the-art cardiac catherization laboratory (cath lab). The new cath lab is scheduled to open in January 2025.
“This cardiac catheterization lab is a dramatic advancement for Hamilton Township that will allow our multidisciplinary cardiovascular experts to provide even faster, safer and more convenient care for patients in the community,” said Mahmoud S. Ghusson, MD, FACC, FACP, a long-time cardiologist with RWJUH Hamilton and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates.
Cath lab procedures include Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/Angioplasties, Carotid Stenting, Peripheral Vascular Interventions, Loop Recorder Insertion, and Temporary Pacemaker Insertion, just to name a few. In 2023, RWJUH Hamilton performed 1,500 diagnostic procedures and 443 interventional procedures, nearly tripling volume from the previous year.
In 2022, RWJUH Hamilton secured approval from the New Jersey Department of Health to perform elective, or non-emergent, angioplasty procedures, enabling residents of Mercer County and central New Jersey to receive premier quality elective cardiac procedures in a comfortable setting close to home.
“We remain committed to continuously investing in the health of our community,” added Lisa Breza, Chief Administrative Officer, RWJUH Hamilton. “This future cardiac cath lab will not only provide new state-of-the-art technology, but will also help ensure that our patients receive the high-quality, patient-centric approach to the care delivery they deserve.”
An angioplasty procedure, sometimes referred to as Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI), is a minimally invasive technique used to open blocked arteries that deliver blood to the heart. An interventional cardiologist uses PCI to treat blocked vessels by threading a catheter through an artery in a patient’s wrist (radial artery) or upper leg (femoral artery). RWJBarnabas Health performs more elective and emergent angioplasty procedures than any other health care system in the state.
“The new catheterization lab will further expedite the outstanding care our specialized clinicians provide on a daily basis, and provide patients suffering from heart attacks and other heart and vascular conditions life-saving care, close to home,” said Seth Rosenbaum, MD, MMM, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.
RWJUH Hamilton’s heart and vascular services’ multidisciplinary, integrated and patient-centric approach to care delivery provides patients with a network of comprehensive cardiovascular and thoracic care options, produces results which exceed national quality benchmarks, features the latest technology and innovative trials, and ensures the best team of clinicians will be by your side.
“We are so proud of the cardiac program and our accomplishments which span over the past year at RWJUH Hamilton,” said Nina Melker, Chair of the RWJUH Hamilton Board of Trustees. “I am also grateful for our partnerships, support and fundraising which have allowed us to expand our cardiac services and meet the increasing needs of our local communities and its residents. When a patient chooses a cardiology specialist at RWJUH Hamilton, they will receive the best possible care close to home and access to New Jersey’s largest cardiac program.”
RWJUH Hamilton provides a full complement of heart and vascular services. To locate and make an appointment with a top cardiac specialist near you, visit rwjbh.org/heart or call 888-724-7123.
RWJUH Hamilton leaders and physicians marked the beginning of construction of the new cardiac catheterization lab.
Pictured from left to right are Diane Grillo, Vice President, Health Promotion; Stephanie Harvilla, Director, Cardiology Services; Joan Bercari, Vice President, Quality and Patient Safety; Hamilton Cardiology Associates physicians, Edward A. Wingfield, MD; Ronald G. Ryder, DO; Mahmoud Ghusson, MD; and Jay Patel, MD; Nina Melker, Chair of the RWJUH Hamilton Board of Trustees; Lisa Breza, Chief Administrative Officer; and Seth Rosenbaum, MD, SVP and Chief Medical Officer.
About RWJUH Hamilton
Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, serves Mercer County as well as a larger five-county region of New Jersey. RWJBarnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Cancer Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to its cancer center, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. RWJUH Hamilton is Joint Commission Certified, Primary Stroke Center Certified from The Joint Commission, and a Center for Excellence from The Joint Commission for stroke, spine surgery and hip and knee replacement and is MAGNET® Recognized from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
RWJUH Hamilton’s other specialties include heart and vascular care, including emergency and elective angioplasty, heart failure intervention program, groundbreaking therapies and new surgical techniques with an innovative team of neurosurgeons, subspecialty neurologists, and neuroscience researchers coupled with the specialty-trained support staff, treatment and care for minor injuries and life-threatening illnesses, outpatient diagnostic and treatment services and medical/surgical services, bariatric surgery, wound care, women’s health, geriatrics/ senior health and wellness care, infusion services, outpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, including cardiac rehab, orthopedic rehab, speech therapy, aquatic therapy, a balance and hearing center and sleep center.
Media Contact:
Sherry Smith
(609)-584-6583
sherry.smith2@rwjbh.org