Cardiovascular surgery is now a reality at the Mercy Fitzgerald campus in Darby, writes John George for Philadelphia Business Journal.

Mercy Catholic Medical Center and Penn Medicine have formed a partnership to develop a cardiovascular surgery program there.

The partnership continues a clinical affiliation between both health care providers formed last year.

It allows patients to access a range of surgical and non-surgical procedures, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and robotic cardiac surgery. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure to treat aortic valve stenosis,

Dr. Michael Acker, chief of cardiovascular surgery and director of the Penn Heart and Vascular Center, said the collaboration will help ensure that Delaware County patients “have access to advanced clinical and surgical cardiac care.”

Dr. Deon W. Vigilance, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Mercy Catholic Medical Center and a clinical assistant professor of surgery at Penn Medicine, said the partnership means Mercy patients will now have access to both Mercy Fitzgerald and Penn campuses, for seamless continuity of care.

“We hope the benefit to our patients will be less disruption, allowing them to access a full range of care right in their own backyard.”

Read more about Mercy Health’s new  cardiovascular surgery program here.

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