Chesapeake Regional Performs First Open-Heart Surgery

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Today Chesapeake Regional Healthcare announced that it performed its first-ever open-heart surgery this week. The successful surgery marks a momentous achievement for the hospital and the launch of its cardiac surgery program. The coronary artery bypass surgery was performed by Edward J. Coleman, MD, Medical Director of the Cardiothoracic program, along with Chesapeake Regional’s open heart surgical team.

Dr. Coleman, a highly skilled cardiothoracic surgeon whose experience and expertise have produced several successful programs across the country, assembled a surgical team at Chesapeake Regional to optimize care delivery and patient safety. He says “This open-heart surgical team provides patients with comprehensive services to deliver the best care possible. We have gathered specialists from several disciplines to create a unique and innovative care model.” He adds, “I am thrilled to be part of this program, and to work with the leadership and the physicians at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center.”

Using the universal bed model, cardiac patient care at Chesapeake Regional is managed in one setting, from post-operation to discharge. This enables providers to practice the highest standards of care using established, evidence-based protocols while significantly improving the patient experience. Chesapeake Regional’s first cardiac surgery took place on Tuesday, April 30. The surgery was successful, and the patient will be discharged after three days, surrounded by her care team. Chesapeake Regional Home and Supportive Care services will continue caring for her at home.

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center has earned numerous accolades and accreditations for its existing interventional cardiology program. It has the region’s best heart attack survival rate and is better than the 90th percentile among hospitals nationally. Through a Certificate of Public Need (COPN) request, Chesapeake Regional was approved to introduce open-heart surgery at the hospital in 2023, five years after the hospital’s initial request.
“This is the beginning of a new era for Chesapeake Regional,” said Reese Jackson, President & CEO of Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. “An open-heart surgery program is a natural next step to complement our award-winning cardiovascular services. It also addresses a critical need in the region. Chesapeake Regional continues to provide what the community wants and needs so that residents can receive high-quality health care close to home.”

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