Congratulations Gwinnett Medical Center!

As a proud supporter and friend of Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC), the Gwinnett Chamber would like to congratulate GMC on the groundbreaking of their Open Heart Center. Please join the Gwinnett Chamber in celebrating the new facility and its services that will save countless lives in Gwinnett and metro Atlanta by viewing GMC Foundation's video and sharing it with your friends and family. To view the video, visit http://www.openheartgwinnett.com/, and click play on the "Boom Boom Heart" video.

Gwinnett Medical Center Breaks Ground for Open Heart Center

Lawrenceville, GA - Gwinnett Medical Center recently broke ground for its Heart & Vascular Center, which is slated to open in early 2012. More than 300 members of the community attended a groundbreaking celebration which featured presentations by Charles Bannister, Chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners and Philip Wolfe, GMC's president and chief executive officer.

Thanks to an incredible outpouring of community support, GMC secured approval from the State to launch its open heart program in Gwinnett County. Gwinnett is the largest county in the nation without an open heart surgery program, causing hundreds of residents to have to travel outside of the area to receive vital cardiac care.

"As strong as we believed our application to the state was, we knew that we couldn't bring this vital service to Gwinnett without proving that this community not only needed, but demanded that Gwinnett Medical Center be able to offer comprehensive cardiac services that a community of this size requires," said Wolfe. "Now we can truly say that open heart is in our hands."

A dedicated 40,000 square foot facility is in development. This $33 million investment will ensure that the people of Gwinnett County have access to a complete range of cardiac services.

"This will be a state-of-the-art center, infusing the latest technologies," said Manfred Sandler, MD, director of cardiology at GMC. "For the professionals who will work here, it will be a dream. Physicians and staff have been involved in the planning and design process, and the result is the creation of facilities that are optimally configured - providing the best possible environment to focus on the task at hand."

While open heart surgery has been the focal point of the project, the program does encompass other advanced cardiovascular services, including coronary angioplasty and stenting procedures. These new services add to a well-respected cardiac program that includes an accredited chest pain center in the emergency department, a cardiac wellness program certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and a full range of cardiac diagnostic services.

The GMC Foundation is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise $8 million to assist in funding the Heart & Vascular Center project. In honor of the groundbreaking, the Foundation created a video showcasing donors, associates and community leaders celebrating GMC's new Heart and Vascular Center.

"We hope the video will create awareness of GMC and the services provided at both hospitals, showcasing the excellent care provided by our system and the passion behind the bricks and mortar," said Jason Chandler, president of the GMC Foundation.

For information about making a donation to the Foundation or to view the video, visit http://www.openheartgwinnett.com/.