Open-heart surgery paused during review at Wynn Hospital

UTICA, N.Y. — Following concerns expressed by the New York State Department of Health, Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has temporarily paused open-heart surgeries at the new Wynn Hospital while the program is reviewed, the organization announced in a news release.

The health department expressed those concerns after a site visit earlier this week, the release stated. MVHS leadership, medical staff, and the board of directors are now looking into the strength and quality of open-heart surgery at Wynn Hospital, which opened last October.

All other cardiac services and procedures remain open and continue as normal including stents, angioplasties, cardiac catheterizations, and minimally invasive cardiac procedures. MVHS stated cardiac patients should continue to utilize the Wynn for cardiac treatment, especially in the case of heart attacks. If a patient presents with a case that requires open-heart surgery, Wynn’s staff will stabilize the patient and transfer them to another facility to receive further care. MVHS is working with other facilities in the region to ensure appropriate care is available for all patients requiring open-heart surgery.

MVHS has also brought on an external organization to conduct a review aimed at strengthening the open-heart surgery service and reopening it as quickly as possible.

Prior to the opening of the Wynn, cardiac services were offered at MVHS’s St. Elizabeth campus. Both St. Elizabeth and the St. Luke’s Healthcare hospital campus closed when the Wynn opened.

This is not the first time services have been paused at the Wynn. Last October, shortly after it opened, the hospital diverted major and trauma surgeries to other facilities while an air-handling issue was remedied.

The $611 million, 10-story, 702,000-square-foot-hospital includes 373 beds, 47 emergency department treatment spaces, and 14 operating rooms.