Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) has built Maui and the neighbor islands’ only comprehensive heart program into one of the best in the state, meeting or surpassing national medical standards.
Coronary interventions more than doubled from 2011 to 2012, including 176 heart attacks who, prior to the start of the heart program would have required emergent travel to Honolulu, and 87 open-heart surgeries were performed through the 2012 calendar year, compared to 18 in 2011. Case volume continues to increase, in part reflecting a growing number of patients transferred from the Big Island hospitals for cardiac care.
According to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), MMMC’s heart program meets or exceeds national standards set for cardiovascular surgery including success rates, complication rates, and amount of blood transfused. Since the recent addition of renowned cardiothoracic surgeons Dr. Michael Dang and Dr. Tracy Dorheim, the program reports both an increase in volume, and dramatic improvement in quality and outcomes. The interventional cardiology team, led by Dr. Colin Lee and Dr. Joseph Chambers, has also demonstrated meeting or exceeding many of the standards set by the American College of Cardiology (ACC). One of the standards that reflect the quality of the care of a patient presenting with a STEMI, or emergent major heart attack, is “door to balloon time (DTB)”. DTB is the time it takes from the patient’s arrival at the facility to the inflation of the balloon opening the blocked artery. The team boasts an average well below the ACC benchmark of 90 minutes or less and has often been able to open a blocked artery in substantially less time, saving precious heart muscle and dramatically improving patient outcomes.
“I don’t think people understand the quality and comprehensiveness of cardiovascular services and treatments available at Maui Memorial Medical Center. We can do almost everything here, and do it just as well or better than anywhere else in the state,” says cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Michael Dang, who celebrated his one-year anniversary with MMMC on Valentine’s Day this year.
The MMMC heart team is built up of seven physicians: Drs. Michael Dang and Tracy Dorheim (Cardiothoracic Surgeons); Drs. Colin Lee and Joseph Chambers (Interventional Cardiologists); Dr. Kimble Poon (Electrophysiologist); Drs. Andrew Rosenblum and Leslie Oberst (General Cardiologists).
Besides education and experience in their varied fields of medical expertise, the success of the team can be attributed to something else they all have in common – their dedication to the program. They have each spent countless hours analyzing data and procedures to build and strengthen the program. Many spend their days off at the hospital observing and consulting each other through procedures.
“Our team includes highly skilled and wonderfully dedicated physicians who are here to provide the highest quality patient care. Our strength is in our teamwork. Maui and the nearby island communities can feel absolutely confident that they will receive excellent, safe, and compassionate cardiac care at Maui Memorial Medical Center,” said Dr. Colin Lee.
“What makes this team special is the sense of ownership that pushes each physician to continually improve the program. Because it is somewhat new, it is exciting to be able to truly contribute and guide the growth and success of the program,” said Dr. Tracy Dorheim.
When medical emergencies involve the heart, every minute that passes is heart muscle loss. With the help of the new equipment in ambulances that provide information to doctors during patient transport, and the new helipad built to serve rural areas of Maui and the neighbor islands, MMMC is successfully treating heart patients who previously had to be flown to Honolulu for treatment, saving precious time and resources, and improving the patient outcomes, both short- and long-term.
“I was admitted into the ER after experiencing obscure signs of a heart attack. They started tests immediately. After the tests I was admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit where I had to undergo a cardiac catheterization. Dr. Chambers, who performed the procedure, was experienced and knowledgeable and took time to talk to me about my conditions. It turned out that I had five full or partial blockages that would require open-heart surgery. When I met the surgeon, Dr. Dorheim, I knew immediately that I’d be in good care. The operation lasted over six hours. The surgeon and his staff were capable, very professional and as good as any I would find on the mainland. After a successful surgery I was released to go home where I am currently walking, climbing stairs and moving towards a complete recovery. Needless to say, I am now a strong supporter of their (MMMC) cardiology area,” said Lahaina resident Dick Wojcik.
“Our heart program is a shining example of our commitment to improving and evolving our services to fulfill the needs of our community, and exceed patient expectations. It is a testament to the direction we have been and will continue to move towards to provide superior, quality, compassionate care,” said Wesley Lo, MMMC Chief Executive Officer.
Maui Memorial Medical Center is Maui’s only full-service, acute medical care facility.
Located in central Maui in Wailuku, the center has 1,400 employees and is licensed for
213 acute care beds, and provides comprehensive healthcare for Maui County, including Lanai and Molokai. MMMC is the only hospital outside of Oahu also providing comprehensive cardiac services, including open-heart surgery and angioplasty. For more information about MMMC, visit www.mauimemorialmedical.org.
