Dear friends, I am pleased to present to you the Bayhealth Cardiovascular 2018 Annual Report. In this report, you will find a brief overview of our publicly reported quality data, patient stories and new programs we have added to meet our community needs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our shift into crisis mode, this report was delayed. In these unprecedented times, it’s more important than ever that we reinforce our commitment to the communities we serve — not just in times of emergency but with all our services as we resume our pre-COVID-19 operations. Our mission remains unchanged; to deliver world-class cardiovascular and thoracic care here in central and southern Delaware. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the leading cause of death in the United States continues to be cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association reports that 2,300 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease — about one every 38 seconds — and another 91.2 million American adults are living with some form of it, including heart failure, high blood pressure, the effects of heart attack or stroke, or other diseases of the heart and blood vessels. At Bayhealth, we are proud of our comprehensive approach to cardiovascular care. Bayhealth Kent Campus was among the original five hospitals on the East Coast selected to receive early access to Boston Scientific’s Eluvia™, a new FDA-approved drug-eluting device for the treatment of peripheral artery disease. We are the only hospital in Delaware to implant the new EDWARDS INTUITY Elite valve system. The INTUITY valve offers another innovative procedure option for patients with aortic stenosis, to complement our transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) program. Once again, Bayhealth Cardiovascular Services received multiple accolades in 2018 at the state and national level for exceptional cardiovascular care, including: • Mission: Lifeline® Silver Receiving Quality Achievement award for timely treatment of patients suffering a ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack • Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care designation from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware in recognition of improved patient safety and better health outcomes • HealthHelp’s CardiacSite certification for interventional cardiology services We are proud of our achievements, but what matters most is making a difference in the lives of our patients and providing life-saving care close to home. I hope you enjoy our Bayhealth Cardiovascular Services 2018 Annual Report. Sincerely,
Brad D. Kirkes, MBA, MHA, OTR/L, CHT, FACHE Vice President of Ancillary and Clinical Services
