The Montefiore Einstein Cardiac Surgery Program at White Plains Hospital launched in November 2021 and is led by Robert E. Michler, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief and Chairman of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and William A. Jakobleff Jr., MD, Associate Professor, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
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In 2022, the duo combined to perform more than 100 surgeries, including Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), valve repair and replacement, combined CABG/valve procedures, minimally invasive heart surgery and aortic aneurysm and dissection surgery. The outcomes have been exceptional, with a 30-day survival rate of 100%, far exceeding national quality and performance metrics.
Drs. Michler and Jakobleff, who together have performed thousands of open-heart surgeries over the years, take a personalized approach to patient care. They have several conversations with each patient before their surgery to explain in detail what to expect, and to answer any questions the patient or their family members may have. “We want our patients to get to know who is going to be holding their heart in their hands,” explains Dr. Michler.
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The world-renowned surgeons are supported in their lifesaving work by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who are at the top of their respective fields and share the team’s mission to provide the highest-quality care. In addition, both doctors work in coordination with patients’ primary care physicians and cardiologists before and after their care, collaborating closely with referring cardiologists throughout Westchester and the surrounding areas.
To provide the growing number of patients with complex needs with the best possible care, the Hospital opened its new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit in August 2022, expanding the Hospital’s ICU capacity and introducing the progressive Universal Bed Model for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
“Patients go from the ICU setting to a step-down setting, and they remain in that same bed or in that same room for their entire stay,” explains Dr. Jakobleff. “As the patient’s medical needs become fewer, their level of care is de-escalated,” allowing for an expedited recovery as well as improved postoperative outcomes and patient satisfaction, he adds.
White Plains Hospital is just the second hospital in Westchester County with the ability to perform open-heart procedures, providing this essential life-saving service for patients throughout the Hudson Valley. To find out more about the Montefiore Einstein Cardiac Surgery Program at White Plains Hospital, visit: wphospital.org/cardiacsurgery.