PHOTO PROVIDED BY IRMC
Dr. Mark Malias, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, reviews a CT scan.
TREASURE COAST MEDICAL REPORT
recently returned to her job as a hostess at Cracker Barrel
restaurant in Vero Beach.“ Dr. Stowe is such a wonderful
doctor and he gave me such care. And now my first doctor,
Dr. Mark Malias from Holmes is here, too.”
Between November 2006 and early August 2007, Indian
River Medical Center completed 155 open heart surgeries
and 285 angioplasties.
With three heart surgery programs now on the Treasure
Coast, patients have the option of going to a hospital in their
own county for open-heart surgery. The shorter trip for
patients and more convenience for visitors all help to
improve the experience and recovery.
The area’s first heart surgery program began at Lawnwood
Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in 1999, followed
by Martin Memorial Medical Center in the summer of 2006,
with Indian River following suit in the fall.
To date, Lawnwood doctors have performed 3,000 open
heart surgeries, winning the Cardiac Specialty Excellence
Award from HealthGrades for the past three years, hospital
spokeswoman Beth Williams said. HealthGrades Inc. rates
hospital quality nationwide. Since Lawnwood began offering
diagnostic cardiology in 1988, physicians there have performed
122 HEART
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY LAWNWOOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
an impressive 18,000 heart catheterizations.
“I’m very proud to be a part of this,” said Dr. Peter
Downing, medical director of Lawnwood’s cardiovascular
Dr. Peter Downing and Dr. Pamela Roberts perform open-heart surgery at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.