A unique affiliation agreement developed by the leading heart experts at Covenant Heart and Vascular Institute (CHVI) and Texas Heart Institute (THI) of Houston will create more opportunities locally for collaboration and research in the fight against cardiovascular disease.
Details of the agreement, described as the “first of its kind” for either hospital, were announced Friday afternoon at a press conference. Dr. Robert Salem, chief medical officer emeritus for Covenant Health, was the first to broach the idea of creating an affiliation agreement between the two institutions. Discussions began in 2010 between Dr. Salem and Dr. Denton A. Cooley, the founder, surgeon-in-chief and president emeritus of THI.
Dr. Salem, Dr. Cooley and Dr. James T. Willerson, president and medical director of THI, recently ironed out an affiliation agreement that agrees to allow for the transition and coordination of patient care with THI from CHVI for patients with complex thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms, patients in need of ventricular assist devices and patients in need of heart and lung transplants.
“This partnership is the result of a personal, long-standing relationship with Dr. Cooley. We see this affiliation agreement as an opportunity to collaborate with other world-class physicians, which will in turn directly benefit our patients,” Dr. Salem said. “While CHVI provides a comprehensive amount of cardiac care services and treatments, there are a couple of things we do not currently offer. One in particular is the ability to perform heart transplants. There is not a huge need for that procedure locally. We felt it was in the best interest of our patients to partner with a world-class facility that performs heart transplants on a regular basis. This affiliation agreement ensures our cardiac team that their patients will receive excellent care should the need arise.”The agreement also provides opportunities for specialists from THI to promote educational programs at Covenant as well as patient participation in THI clinical research trials. Under the agreement, Covenant’s physicians can observe new procedures at THI and participate in on-site educational programs.
Several members of the Covenant cardiac team received their medical training from THI. THI and its clinical partner, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, is one of the nation’s largest cardiovascular centers located in Houston. Founded in 1962 by Dr. Denton A. Cooley, THI is committed to preventing and treating cardiovascular disease and sharing new knowledge worldwide.
“The collaboration between Covenant Health and Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital should serve patients with severe cardiovascular diseases very well. We look forward to a very productive collaboration, both in patient care and through opportunities in education and research,” Dr. James T. Willerson, president and medical director of THI, said.
The two-year agreement became effective on Aug. 31. An automatic renewal can be expected biannually by mutual consent.