New state-of-the-art spaces will enhance patient care

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 9, 2025)- MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtownleadership and physicians marked significant milestones yesterday with ribbon-cutting ceremonies to celebrate the opening of a new hybrid operating room (OR) and a 16-bed cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). The hybrid OR is a cutting-edge facility designed to provide safer, more efficient care for complex cardiovascular and thoracic procedures, while the CICU delivers expert management of life-threatening heart conditions.  

鈥淭he OR expansion represents MUSC Health鈥檚 dedication to delivering innovative, patient-centered care, further solidifying its role as a leader in cardiovascular treatment in South Carolina,鈥� said cardiothoracic surgeon John Sutton, M.D., who long advocated for the new space. 鈥淔inally, we have a hybrid OR that allows us to take care of complex cases in a safer and more efficient way.鈥� 

The hybrid OR integrates traditional surgical capabilities with advanced imaging and minimally invasive techniques, allowing for multiple procedures to be performed in one location rather than transferring patients between different areas of the hospital. The hybrid OR is primarily designed for use by cardiovascular surgeons, vascular surgeons and the hospital's structural heart team, enabling them to perform advanced procedures that were previously not possible at the facility.  

The CICU is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, critical care specialists and highly trained nurses to deliver expert management of cardiac conditions, such as heart attacks, heart failure, arrhythmias and post-cardiac catheterization recovery. It offers continuous cardiac monitoring and individualized treatment plans tailored to each patient鈥檚 needs. 

鈥淭he expansion of our cardiac intensive care unit represents a significant step forward in our commitment to delivering excellent cardiovascular care,鈥� said Joshua Coney, M.D., a cardiologist and director of Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplant Medicine at MUSC Health for the Columbia Division. 鈥淭his strengthens our ability to provide the most advanced and highest-quality cardiac care to our patients.鈥� 

MUSC Health's Heart & Vascular program in the Midlands offers comprehensive cardiac care through a team of more than 30 experienced heart and vascular specialists. MUSC Health is carrying on the legacy of Providence Hospital, which was founded in 1938, and performed the first open-heart surgery in the Midlands. Our robust heart and vascular team remains at the forefront of heart care in the Midlands.  

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Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state鈥檚 only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates over 3,100 students in six colleges and trains 950+ residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health and research funding. For information on our academic programs, visit musc.edu.

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MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $7.1 billion. The 31,000 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care