Advancements in Cardiovascular Care Showcased


University of Maryland Shore Regional Health recently celebrated the opening of the newest cardiac catheterization laboratory at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton and the organization’s strides in bringing advanced cardiovascular interventions to the Mid-Shore, including Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and Electrophysiology Studies (EPS).

  • Electrophysiology Studies (EPS) assess the electrical activity of the heart to determine where an arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) originates. Performed by inserting thin, soft wires (catheters) through the veins in the leg and into the heart.
  • EPS results guide decisions regarding interventions, which could include medications, a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter (ICD) implantation or cardiac ablation, which is the elimination of abnormal tissue to restore regular heart rhythm.
  • EPS is performed in the cardiac catheterization lab(s) at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton by cardiologist and EPS specialist, Benjamin Remo, MD.
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), also commonly referred to as angioplasty with stent placement, is one of a number of treatments a cardiologist may recommend for coronary heart disease.
  • PCI is a minimally invasive procedure during which the interventional cardiologist places a small structure (a stent) to open up blood vessels in the patient’s heart that have been narrowed by atherosclerosis (plaque buildup).
  • PCI is also a procedure used to treat individuals experiencing a STEMI heart attack (ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction), a severe heart attack caused by blockage that can compromise heart muscle. A patient suffering a STEMI heart attack will have the best outcome if he or she undergoes the PCI procedure to relieve the blockage within 60 minutes of the attack’s onset or at the outside, 90 minutes.
  • PCI is performed in the cardiac catheterization lab(s) at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton by interventional cardiologists, Jeffrey Etherton, MD, and Gabriel Sardi, MD. Combined, they have performed more than 4,000 PCI procedures in their careers.

Community Outreach

Jeffrey Etherton, MD, UM Community Medical Group – Cardiology and medical director, PCI Program at UM SRH, partnered with Cambridge cardiologist, Brendon Paltoo, MD, to offer a presentation to local physicians and UM SMC at Dorchester Emergency Department team members, highlighting cardiovascular capabilities in the region. During the presentation, Dr. Etherton offered a detailed explanation of PCI procedures and protocols.

Local cardiologists Brendon Paltoo, MD, Jeffrey Etherton, MD, and Mahmood Shariff, MD, welcomed guests at the recent presentation about cardiovascular care and innovations available in the region.

Ribbon Cutting Event – May, 2017

UM Shore Regional Health celebrated the opening of the new cardiac cath lab with a ribbon cutting in early May. Pictured are Robert Frank, vice president, Operations, UM SRH; Timothy Shanahan, DO, regional medical director for Physician Services, UM Community Medical Group and chair, UM SRH Cardiology Governance Steering Committee; Jeffrey Etherton, MD, UM CMG – Cardiology and medical director, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Program, UM SRH; John Dillon, chairman, UM SRH Board of Directors; Gary Jones, regional director, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Services, UM SRH; Benjamin Remo, MD, UM CMG – Cardiology and medical director, Electrophysiology Program, UM SRH; Gabriel Sardi, MD, UM CMG – Cardiology; and Ken Kozel, president and CEO UM SRH.

New, state-of-the-art cardiac cath lab at UM SMC at Easton

UM SRH cardiac cath lab team members

Celebrating the opening of the new cardiac cath lab at the ribbon cutting event are John Dillon, chairman, UM SRH Board of Directors; Benjamin Remo, MD, UM CMG – Cardiology and medical director, Electrophysiology Program, UM SRH; Gabriel Sardi, MD, UM CMG – Cardiology; Ken Kozel, president and CEO UM SRH; Corey Pack, Talbot County Council; Gary Jones, regional director, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Services, UM SRH; Laura Price, Talbot County Council; Jeffrey Etherton, MD, UM CMG – Cardiology and medical director, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Program, UM SRH; Maryland State Delegate Johnny Mautz; Timothy Shanahan, DO, regional medical director for Physician Services, UM Community Medical Group and chair, UM SRH Cardiology Governance Steering Committee; Chuck Callahan, Talbot County Council; and Jennifer Williams, president, Talbot County Council.

Various EMS partners celebrated the opening of the new cath lab and the cardiac care capabilities with UM SRH leadership, physicians and cardiovascular team members.