University Hospital Trains Nurses From Holzer Cardiovascular Institute

Contact: Patty Holiday (513) 585-7200
Date: 06/23/2004

Approximately 20 nurses from the Holzer Cardiovascular Institute in Gallipolis, OH recently received training in open heart surgery at The University Hospital. The Holzer nurses worked alongside University Hospital's nurses to learn how to harvest veins in coronary artery bypass procedures, how to handle and pass instruments during surgery, and how to care for patients in the intensive care unit after surgery. The training program helped prepare nurses from the Holzer Cardiovascular Institute for its newly developed open heart surgery program. The Holzer Cardiovascular Institute successfully performed its first open heart surgery procedure on June 16. "It is a compliment to The University Hospital to collaborate with the Holzer Cardiovascular Institute as it launches its open heart surgery program," says Walter Merrill, M.D., chief of cardiothoracic surgery at The University Hospital. "University Hospital is very fortunate to have so many experienced and knowledgeable nurses who are also excellent teachers." "The Holzer Cardiovascular Institute chose to partner with The University Hospital for our training program because of its reputation for providing excellent cardiac care, and because it performs a high number of open heart surgeries," says Matt Johnson, executive director of the Holzer Cardiovascular Institute. "We needed a reputable hospital to partner with for tertiary care." The University Hospital is part of the Health Alliance, an integrated health care delivery system that also includes The Christ Hospital, The St. Luke Hospitals, The Jewish Hospital, The Fort Hamilton Hospital and the physicians of Alliance Primary Care. To view other Health Alliance news releases, go to www.health-alliance.com/pressroom.