UHS Chenango Memorial to open new cardiology center 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at noon, on Friday, July 26, at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich to open a greatly expanded Cardiology Department and a new Cardiac Rehabilitation facility.  The ceremony will take place at the new site, on the first floor of the hospital, to the left as visitors arrive through the west entrance.

The renovation expands the size of the former heart care location from three busy exam rooms to a more spacious, comfortable 10-room unit.

The registration desk and waiting rooms are expanded and conveniently located.  Stress testing and additional testing rooms are located within the department for simplified monitoring and scheduling. 

The new area also features pulmonary services and a pacemaker clinic.

Patients who need cardiac rehabilitation will enjoy the new facility, outfitted with the latest equipment and monitoring system to enhance recovery. Cardiac Rehab will also include a small changing room and lockers for patients’ belongings. Best of all, Chenango County area residents will no longer need to travel outside the area for rehabilitation services.

“All of our patients’ familiar providers and staff are anxious to care for them in this new space,” said Chris Kisacky, vice president for Service Coordination and Development at the Norwich hospital. 

The new facility is part of the UHS Heart & Vascular Institute.  Located at UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City, the institute is the umbrella under which a number of heart services are offered at UHS Wilson, including:  coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve replacement, thoracic procedures, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, cardiac rehabilitation and cardiology. 

UHS Chenango Memorial launched the renovation of its site in 2018 and completed it in July 2019.

The hospital’s heart care center was previously located in the northern-most wing of the hospital, near the Emergency Room.  The renovation and relocation were focused on adding space and complementing services for local heart care patients in need of additional care.  The new location has an entrance off the main lobby and offers easy access and parking for all those utilizing the service. 

The staff of UHS Cardiology remains the same, is energized and ready to share their larger facility with current and new patients.  Cardiologist James O’Brien, MD, FACC, and adult nurse practitioners Sue Button and Mary Rivera are all accepting new patients and offering additional services. 

One of the new services now offered is Cardiac Rehabilitation.  Cardiac Rehab, also known as Phase 2 Rehab, is a specially monitored, low-pace exercise program in which heart care patients wear wireless heart monitoring devices with constant nurse supervision. 

This program is important in recovery after a heart condition, was not previously offered locally and required travel out of the area.  Staff member Joel Cummings, RN, is specially trained to work with cardiac rehab patients and help them through the process of getting back to a comfortable and safe lifestyle.

To make appointments, patients and providers can call 337-4215.

A public open house will be scheduled for later this year. 

CMH is a member of the UHS healthcare system. UHS is a locally owned, not-for-profit hospital and healthcare system serving Greater Binghamton and surrounding counties. Founded in 1981, UHS provides a full range of medical, surgical, rehabilitative and long-term care services throughout New York’s Southern Tier.

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