Good Samaritan Health System Among First To Implant Advanced Defibrillator

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 11 Sep 2008 - 13:00 PDT

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Good Samaritan Hospital was among the first in the nation to implant a TELIGENTM implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This advanced device is used to treat sudden cardiac death, which is the abrupt loss of heart function, usually due to an electrical rhythm dysfunction in the lower chambers of the heart that causes the heart to pump blood ineffectively.

GSH is among the first to bring this new technology to Central Pennsylvania. Dr. Jeffrey L. Williams, MD, MS, FACC, implanted the devices in two patients on August 7, 2008. This device represents an entirely new platform to treat sudden cardiac death and provides physicians enhanced clinical options for their patients. It is one of the smallest, thinnest implantable defibrillators in the world, featuring innovative new technologies with exceptional longevity.

"Our goal is provide the most state-of-the-art heart rhythm services with a patient- and family-centered caregiving approach. We are proud to offer these services to our patients at Good Samaritan Hospital," says Dr. Williams. Good Samaritan Hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories had an impressive overall Press-Ganey patient satisfaction score of 93.4% (from 1/1/08 through 3/31/08). In addition, Good Samaritan Hospital was awarded an American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award signifies that the hospital reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients based on core standard levels of care as outlined by the AHA/American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Williams is available for inpatient consultations at Good Samaritan Hospital and outpatient consultations at his practice, Lebanon Cardiology Associates, Lebanon, PA. He specializes in advanced cardiac heart rhythm evaluation, intracardiac arrhythmia ablation (including atrial fibrillation) and implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. The Invasive Electrophysiology Laboratory at Good Samaritan Hospital offers the most advanced 3D intracardiac mapping system and intracardiac echocardiography available and is the only center in Central PA to offer jet ventilation for advanced cardiac ablation to ensure the safest possible procedures.

Good Samaritan Hospital