Highlights in Cardiac Care

1969 Cardiovascular services begin with one of the first coronary care units in Illinois at OSF Saint Francis.
1969 First cardiac catheterization in area performed by Dr. William Albers.
1979 Area's first cardiac rehabilitation program established by Dr. Don McRaven.
1981 First PTCA (balloon angioplasty) in area performed by Dr. David Best.
1986 Electrophysiology services established in Central Illinois by Dr. Joseph Sarmiento.
1987 Downstate Illinois' first heart transplant performed at OSF Saint Francis.
1989 Formation of the OSF Cardiac Network under the leadership of Dr. N. Kent Wise.
1991 Area's first FR (radio frequency) ablation performed by Drs. Robert Bauernfeind and Joseph Sarmiento.
1994 First ventricular device used as a bridge to cardiac transplants is implanted by Drs. Fred Hoy and Barry Clemson.
1997 By this date, rotablator, stents and intravascular ultrasound being used.
2003 Area's first drug eluting stents used by Drs. Subash Patel and Alan Chu.
2004 Downstate Illinois' first permanent fully portable left ventricular assist device is implanted by Drs. Fred Hoy and Barry Clemson.
2004 OSF Cardiac Network adds 15th hospital.
2004 First use of PolarCath in downstate Illinois by Dr. Robert Crawford.
2004 Formation of OSF Saint Francis Heart Hospital.
2004 Robotic System used for Mitral Valve Repair
2005 AHA "Get With The Guidelines" participation
2005 Cardiac Rehab received the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehab (AACVPR) certification
2005 JCAHO Certification for ACS & AMI (First and only in state)
2005 New women's Cardiovascular program (Face It. Change It.)
2006 The 5th OSF owned and operated cath lab was added. It is our first off site cath lab.
2006 Recertified by JCAHO for acute heart attack care
2006 Received Initial Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for care of patients with coronary artery disease (US News & World Reports - 7/17/06)
2006 Solucient Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital