Susquehanna Heart & Vascular Institute offers a complete range of advanced clinical services, including cardiothoracic surgery, noninvasive heart and vascular testing, and interventional procedures, as well as cardiac exercise and pulmonary wellness programs.

All outpatient services are conveniently located in the Heart & Vascular Institute, a modern facility on the Williamsport Hospital and Medical Center campus. Our heart surgery patients are cared for in a specialized 11-bed cardiovascular surgical unit where they remain during their entire stay. Essential to the Institute is our team of surgeons, cardiologists and specially trained nurses who care for the patients and communicate with their family doctors to ensure a successful outcome.

Recent advances have enabled us to quickly move a heart attack patient through our Emergency department and into to the Cath lab where the artery can be opened, sometimes in as little as 49 minutes from the time the patient has arrived in the Emergency department-far less time than the 90 minutes recommended by the American College of Cardiology. This dramatically improves our patients chances of coming through their heart attack with little or no damage.

Under the leadership of our cardiologists and Emergency department physicians, the Heart & Vascular Institute has committed to reducing the 90-minute goal to 60 minutes. If achieved, this could position Susquehanna Health in the top percentile of all Pennsylvania hospitals for outcomes.

One significant achievement that is helping our cardiac patients receive faster care includes transmitting an EKG electronically from the ambulance to the Emergency department staff. Once confirmed, the Cardiologist and Cath Lab teams organize themselves and get their respective departments ready for the patient. Our Heart & Vascular team is now pursuing transmitting the EKG electronically and directly to the cardiologist.