Miriam, R.I. Hospital launch surgery program

PROVIDENCE – The new combined open heart surgery program by Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital began Oct. 16.
The program is expected to be one of the largest volume open heart surgery programs in New England.
Under the new program, surgeons Dr. Nikola Dobrilovic and Dr. James Fingleton, who performed cardiac surgeries at Miriam, will now join Dr. Frank W. Sellke and Dr. Arun Singh, in operating at Rhode Island Hospital.
The consolidation is the first essential element in creating a Cardiovascular Institute that will span the two hospital campuses, hospital officials said.
Under the program, Miriam Hospital will continue to maintain comprehensive cardiac services, including cardiac diagnostic testing, such as cardiac catheterization and coronary intervention, cardiac rehabilitation and prevention.
“Establishing the combined open heart surgery program at Rhode Island Hospital, while maintaining a strong cardiac services program at Miriam Hospital, will enable clinicians to provide the best cardiac care possible to all of our patients,” said Dr. Timothy J. Babineau, president and CEO of the two Lifespan hospitals.
New technologies and procedures, as well as lifestyle changes, have led to a decline in open-heart surgery cases across the country – and in Rhode Island, according to Babineau.
The new open heart surgery program will be located in renovated space in Rhode Island Hospital’s Bridge Building, the hospital’s newest and most modern building. It will feature a total of 34 private patient rooms – 10 cardiology ICU beds; 14 cardiac surgery ICU beds; and 10 cardiac surgery “step-down” beds. The sixth floor has 38 beds – 24 private cardiology step-down beds; and 14 medical beds, which are located in either private rooms or shared rooms.