Emory's
Crawford Long Hospital Receives Million Dollar Plus Grant
From Medtronic For Heart Training Programs
Medtronic, Inc.,
a world leader in the development of medical devices, has awarded The
Carlyle Fraser Heart Center at Emory's Crawford Long Hospital an educational
grant of $400,000 annually for three years to fund educational and training
programs focusing on the use of emerging technology in the field of
cardiac rhythm management and heart failure therapy.
"Some of the most exciting
developments in cardiology recently have involved the use of implantable
cardiac devices Ð including pacemakers, defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization
devices. They offer new hope to thousands of people with challenging,
potentially life limiting heart conditions," said Angel Leon, M.D.,
Director of Cardiology at Crawford Long Hospital "We are very grateful
for the Medtronic grant which will help us train cardiologists to properly
and effectively use these innovative technologies."
The Cardiac Electrophysiology
Service at Crawford Long Hospital ranks among the nation's leaders in
clinical research in heart rhythm management and device therapy for
congestive heart failure. Last fall, Dr. Leon performed the first implant
of the commercially approved cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
system at Crawford Long Hospital's Carlyle Fraser Heart Center after
the device received U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval to
treat heart failure.
CRT is considered the first
major therapeutic breakthrough for heart failure patients since the
development of specialized heart failure drugs. Cardiac resynchronization
systems use a small pulse generator (about the size of two stacked silver
dollars) implanted beneath the skin in the shoulder region to deliver
synchronized electrical stimulation to three chambers of the heart,
enabling the heart pump blood more efficiently throughout the body.
The result is often a dramatic improvement in exercise capacity and
quality of life.
"CRT is one of several emerging
new therapies involving cardiac devices that are changing the face of
cardiology and opening up new treatment possibilities for conditions
ranging from arrhythmia to heart failure. We are committed to providing
cardiologists and associated health professionals with the best training
possible so they can use these new treatment modalities successfully,"
said Dr. Leon. "In addition to training physicians to use CRT and other
newly developed technology, the grant allows the Carlyle Fraser Center
to continue its role as a leader in innovation and education in the
field of cardiovascular disease."
"The Carlyle Fraser Heart
Center at Crawford Long is recognized as one of the leading heart centers
in the country. The generous grant from Medtronic will enable our outstanding
team of heart specialists to offer training to cardiologists from all
over the nation seeking to learn the latest heart device technology,"
said Mr. John D. Henry, Sr., FACHE, chief executive officer of Emory
Hospitals and Wesley Woods Center.
Since 1975 Emory Crawford
Long Carlyle Fraser Heart Center has been recognized internationally
for its work in the diagnosis treatment and prevention of heart and
lung disease. The Carlyle Fraser Heart Center is part of the Emory Heart
Center, ranked in the top ten America's Best Hospitals by US News &
World Report. Emory Hospitals include Emory University Hospital, a 587-bed
hospital located on the Emory University campus in northeast Atlanta,
Crawford Long Hospital, Emory's 583-bed, community-based hospital in
midtown and Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital, a 100-bed hospital located
on the Emory campus. Emory Hospitals are components of EMORY HEALTHCARE,
the most comprehensive health care system in Atlanta. Other components
of EMORY HEALTHCARE are: The Emory Clinic, the Emory Children's Center,
the jointly owned Emory-Adventist Hospital, and EHCA, LLC, a limited
liability company created in collaboration with HCA Healthcare.
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