MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — An open-heart surgery program is in development at Berkeley Medical Center.
A press release from WVU Medicine says it’s part of a partnership with the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute.
Preparations are underway, including staff training, equipment installation, and mock surgeries.
The first open heart procedure could happen by the end of next year.
“At the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, we are proud to deliver some of the nation’s best outcomes in cardiac surgery, driven by a team of world-class clinicians and a relentless commitment to excellence,” Vinay Badhwar, M.D., executive chair of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute and Service Line said.
“This Program is a direct response to the needs of our community,” Mark O’Hern, president and CEO of WVU Hospitals East, said. “We’re proud to bring this level of care to Berkeley Medical Center and ensure our patients have access to life-saving procedures close to home.”
The addition of open-heart surgery is part of a more than $400 million capital investment in the Eastern Panhandle by WVU Medicine over the next several years with the hope that Berkeley Medical Center will evolve into a regional medical hub and academic medical center “equipped to deliver high-acuity care and serve as a destination for specialty services across West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia.”
