The Windsor Cardiac Centre has been granted a renewed accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for the third consecutive time.
According to a press release from Windsor Cardiac Centre, it is the only accredited healthcare facility in South-Western Ontario, and among only seven accredited medical facilities in all of Canada. It also says the Centre's renewed accreditation demonstrates its ongoing commitment to providing the best quality patient care in echocardiography.
"Unfortunately, Windsor-Essex has been known to have the highest rate of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular deaths," says Dr. Wadea Tarhuni, President and CEO of the Windsor Cardiac Centre.
The Centre announced on Friday, Aug. 31 that it has taken leadership to start a five-point progressive plan to improve cardiovascular care in the Windsor-Essex community. Part of the plan was to attract and return a new cardiologist to Windsor.
Dr. Ashraf Farag will be starting at the Centre next week. He will be one of three interventionists in Windsor, meaning he can proform angioplasties; a minimally-invasive procedure to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins.
Dr. Wadea Tarhuni announces the arrival of a new intervention cardiologist for Windsor-Essex at the Windsor Cardiac Centre on August 31, 2018. Photo by Alyssa Leonard
"I liked the place and the city... the Arab community is big here, and the weather is nice," says Farag on why he chose Windsor. He says he was also attracted to this city because of the high volume of cardiovascular patients.
Farag also has part-time privileges for as-needed with the hospital.
"We have a bit of a shortage of people who do intervention or invasive procedures, and by having a third invasive cardiologist we will definitely be able to get quick treatment to our patients," says Tarhuni. "This will help reduce our waiting list significantly."
Mayor Drew Dilkens says having another cardiologist in Windsor at the accredited Windsor Cardiac Centre sets a high-water mark for the type of service that our community delivers.
"When you're able to attract folks from overseas who see the opportunity here in our community and who like our community, obviously it's not just about the number of patients they can get, it's also about wanting to be a part of the community," says Dilkens. "So I think this speaks very highly of Windsor-Essex...and of Windsor Cardiac Centre and the work they have done."
For more information on Canada's first and highest-ranking accredited outpatient cardiac facility, check out the Windsor Cardiac Care's website.