Pancreas and Biliary Center Launches at St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan
04/17/2008
Contact: Mary Mooney
212-604-2675
New York, NY, February 12, 2008 - St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan launched today the Pancreas and Biliary Center for patients with pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancers, and other disorders of the biliary system and pancreas. The Pancreas and Biliary Center provides patients with access to an experienced team of physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating these disorders, while offering patients the best chance at a positive outcome.
'St. Vincent's is excited to open the Pancreas and Biliary Center, which offers patients a one-stop resource center, equipped with the latest tools and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment , as well as providing a high level of clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating these disorders effectively. Access to our highly trained staff and cutting-edge technology ensures that our patients receive the best care possible,' said Henry Amoroso, President and CEO, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers.
Comprehensive Care
The new Pancreas and Biliary Center at St. Vincent's gives patients access to all of the medical and surgical specialists they will need, in one location, while guiding them through their cancer experience. By providing coordinated care in one central location - a unified diagnostic, treatment and educational center - patients receive access to every resource and the highest quality of care.
'At the Pancreas and Biliary Center, our physicians and staff understand what an emotionally disruptive event a diagnosis of cancer is,' says Dr. Franklin Kasmin, medical director for endoscopic ultrasound. 'By having surgeons and specialists all under one roof, we are able to guide patients through the cancer treatment process, making sure they never feel alone and have convenient access to the services they need.'
Dr. Kasmin and Dr. Avram Cooperman, surgical director for the center, both bring extensive experience pioneering, publishing and training in pancreatic and biliary disease.
'The Pancreas and Biliary Center offers complete, integrated care for all patients with pancreatic and biliary disorders. Our staff has more than 100 years of combined experience, and the center will serve not only as a diagnostic and treatment center but also as a training site for physicians,' said Dr. Cooperman.
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Cutting Edge Diagnostics
Late detection is a key factor in the high mortality rate associated with pancreatic cancer. Due to the location of the pancreas and late onset of symptoms, tumors and other abnormalities in this area are often difficult to diagnosis.
The Pancreas and Biliary Center has the most sophisticated equipment available for diagnosing disorders and cancers of this type. The center employs the latest in diagnostic and therapeutic technology, including:
• Endoscopic ultrasound (E.U.S.): uses sound waves to produce images of the pancreas and the surrounding structures, and is more effective and reliable than CT scans in diagnosing and staging this type of cancer
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (E.R.C.P.): allows the physician to directly visualize the biliary and pancreatic ducts, allowing immediate diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.
• Fine Needle Aspiration of pancreatic cysts.
The Pancreas and Biliary Center's diagnostic excellence is teamed with the most up-to-date surgical and medical treatment options. For more information on the Pancreas and Biliary Center, visit the St. Vincent's website at www.svcmc.org.
About Saint Vincent's
Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers (Saint Vincent's) is anchored by St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, an academic medical center located in Greenwich Village and the only emergency room on the Westside of Manhattan from Midtown to Tribeca, St. Vincent's Westchester, a behavioral health hospital in Westchester County, and continuing care services that include two skilled nursing facilities in Brooklyn, another on Staten Island, a hospice, and a home health agency serving the Metropolitan New York area. Its behavioral health services also provide supportive housing programs for people with mental illness throughout the Metropolitan area. Saint Vincent's is the designated provider for the New York and New Jersey region of the US Family Health Plan sponsored by the US Department of Defense.
Saint Vincent's serves as the academic medical center of New York Medical College in New York City. The healthcare organization is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn and the president of the Sisters of Charity of New York.
