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Susquehanna Health today announced an affiliation with Cleveland Clinic’s Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute. The affiliation combines the academic, clinical and research components of Cleveland Clinic with the regional leader in cardiac services in northcentral Pennsylvania.

The Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic has been ranked No. 1 in heart care by U.S. News & World Report for 19 consecutive years.

“For nearly forty years, Susquehanna Health’s heart program has been a leader in this community. We are excited to add Cleveland Clinic’s quality and reputation to our own,” says Michael Lazar, MD, Medical Director of Susquehanna Health Heart & Vascular Institute. “I am honored to be a part of such a strong team of quality physicians both at Susquehanna Health and Cleveland Clinic. I look forward to incorporating their best practices and learning from our peers at Cleveland Clinic. Our patients will benefit from this affiliation as we grow our knowledge of cardiac care and the new treatments and therapies we can offer.”

“Collaborations like this are good for patients because they are evidence that their local healthcare provider is striving to provide them with the most advanced care and has a future-looking focus,” says Bruce Lytle, MD, Chairman, Cleveland Clinic Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. “Susquehanna Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute is clearly committed to high quality patient care, and by affiliating with Cleveland Clinic, it is fostering relationships and building bridges that will allow it to continue raising the bar for heart care in northcentral Pennsylvania.”

Once the program is fully implemented, Susquehanna Health patients will benefit from the latest development in research trends and shared treatment protocols and best practices offered through Cleveland Clinic. Beyond weekly regular communications such as Grand Rounds teleconferencing between the two organizations’ heart and vascular clinical staffs, plans for Susquehanna Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute’s team also include visits to Cleveland to view their operations and speak with representatives in related services such as Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy and Cardiac Rehabilitation.

About Susquehanna Health

Susquehanna Health is a four-hospital integrated health system including Divine Providence Hospital, Muncy Valley Hospital, Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital and Williamsport Regional Medical Center located in northcentral Pennsylvania. Serving patients from an 11-county region, Susquehanna Health is a healthcare leader and has been recognized at the national and state levels for quality of care. Susquehanna Health offers a wide array of services that include cancer care, heart and vascular care/heart surgery, neurosciences including neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, OB/GYN, gastrointestinal services, behavioral health, physical rehabilitation, home care, long term care, assisted living and paramedic/ambulance services. Visit us at www.susquehannahealth.org.

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. More than 3,000 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals, more than 75 Northern Ohio outpatient locations, including 16 full-service Family Health Centers, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and, currently under construction, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2012, there were 5.1 million outpatient visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 157,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 130 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.