“With each visit, I became more and more impressed with the strength of the medical community and with the commitment of Western Baptist Hospital to create a first-class, university-level program,” says Dr. Howe.

Paducah’s central location, between Nashville, Memphis, and Saint Louis, was another key factor in the program’s growth, Dr. Howe explains. “Developing heart surgery in Paducah helped patients in the region avoid distant travel and family separation at a time of great family concern,” he comments.

By mid-1984, Dr. Howe enthusiastically accepted the challenge of developing the open heart surgery program at Western Baptist. Working closely with Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington and Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Dr. Howe organized and trained a team of doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff. By 1985, the open heart surgery program at Western Baptist was born.

In the program’s inaugural year, 240 patients underwent open heart surgery. Today, those numbers have climbed to more than 600 patients per year at both hospitals in Paducah. With steady improvements in anesthesia and hospital care, Dr. Howe says that most patients now stay in the hospital three to four days following surgery as opposed to the usual seven to ten day recovery time in 1985.

“We have continually brought in new technology and procedures including valve repair, blood conservation, ventricular assist, off-pump surgery, laser revascularization, and other less invasive techniques,” says Dr. Howe. “New innovations continue to unfold, especially in the areas of heart failure and rhythm disturbances.”

To learn more about the open heart surgery program at Western Baptist Hospital, call Baptist Health Line at 270-575-2918 or visit our Web site at http://www.westernbaptist.com.