Cardiac program marks two years of saving lives

Cardiologists at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) have performed almost 2,000 cardiac angioplasties since the first cardiac procedure was performed two years ago today.

Wait times for the life-saving procedure have been reduced by 87 per cent, and the survival rate is well above the national average.

“By being able to do PCI procedures here in the Southern Interior we are saving more lives and making things easier emotionally and financially for our patients and their families,” said Dr. Richard Townley, Interior Health cardiologist and PCI Program Director. “As a doctor, I couldn’t ask for a bigger reward.”

Of the 1,885 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) – also known as angioplasties – performed at KGH since Nov. 16, 2009, almost half involved patients from outside the Okanagan region:

• Okanagan-Similkameen: 55.3 per cent
• Thompson-Cariboo: 26.3 per cent
• Kootenay-Boundary: 11.9 per cent
• East Kootenay: 1.5 per cent
• Non-residents: 4.7 per cent

“The statistics speak for themselves. By expanding services to include cardiac care, we are improving health outcomes for patients throughout the Southern Interior,” said Norman Embree, Interior Health Authority board chair.

Prior to the start of the Interior Health PCI Program in November 2009, the median wait time in hospital for Southern Interior residents needing a cardiac angioplasty was 3.7 days, not including the time and expense involved in travelling to the Lower Mainland for treatment.

The median wait time is now just under half a day, and travel distances to Kelowna are much shorter for all patients and their families.

The national average mortality rate for PCI patients is 1.69 per 100. The average mortality rate for patients in the IH program is 0.53 per 100 (risk adjusted).

“Cardiac patients in the Southern Interior are receiving top-notch care thanks to the incredible doctors, surgeons and health-care professionals who make this program possible,” said Steve Thomson, MLA for Kelowna-Mission. “By working together to make this program a reality, we are truly making a difference in people’s lives.”

PCIs were previously only performed at four hospitals in British Columbia: Royal Columbian Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital.

The Interior Health Cardiac Revascularization Program is operating in collaboration with the other cardiac centres in the province. Cardiac services are provided by Cardiac Services BC, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. It works with the regional health authorities, including Interior Health, to promote best practices and evidence-based cardiac care.

Cardiac services are being rolled out at KGH in a phased approach. This started with the Transition Plan, which included up to $27 million in upgrades and new equipment, and will see doctors performing heart surgeries at KGH beginning in December 2012. The final phase will include a brand new cardiac care and surgical centre – the Interior Heart and Surgical Centre (IHSC) Building.

The IHSC Building is part of the Interior Heart and Surgical Centre Project, which includes the East Pandosy Clinical Support Building as well as renovations and fit-outs of existing buildings at KGH. The total value of the IHSC project is $448 million with $357 million from the Province and $91 million from the Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District and is expected to be complete in 2017.

Over the next three years, British Columbia’s health-care system will benefit from investments such as the IHSC as part of a $2.1-billion health sector capital plan.