Hospital Will Purchase Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

The recently enacted Fiscal Year 2022 federal government funding bill includes a significant investment in cardiac care for residents of Burlington County, through a $1 million appropriation to Deborah Heart and Lung Center, New Jersey’s only specialty heart, lung, and vascular hospital. The funding was championed by U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and will be used by Deborah to purchase a Cardiac MRI Scanner, a highly specialized diagnostic tool that creates detailed images of the heart without using radiation.

“I am thankful that Senators Menendez and Booker continue to advocate for the residents of Burlington County and supported funding that will expand access to cardiac care in the region,” said Deborah President and CEO Joseph Chirichella. “The new Cardiac MRI Scanner will be of great benefit to many area residents. Cardiac MRI technology is valuable in diagnosing a broad range of conditions including congenital defects, valve failure, conditions related to coronary artery disease and cardiac injury related to COVID-19. This MRI is also capable of imaging other parts of the body.”

Senators Menendez and Booker both noted the importance of continuing to invest in community-based health care.

“New Jersey hospitals are leaders nationwide in providing quality health care and I am pleased to see this funding that I fought for come to our state,” said Sen. Menendez.  Deborah Heart and Lung Center is a unique facility in New Jersey that provides top-notch, innovative care. With this funding, the hospital will be able to ensure cardiac patients have access to the latest life-saving technology in South Jersey.”

“As part of the bipartisan government funding bill, I fought to ensure that New Jersey received resources to address some of the biggest challenges that we face in the state, including improving our healthcare system,” said Sen. Booker. “I am proud to announce this funding for Deborah Heart and Lung Center that will help the hospital purchase high-tech, specialized equipment to help with cardiac care and patient diagnosis. With this much-needed federal investment, residents in South Jersey will also be able to access higher quality healthcare closer to home.”

Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ is an 89-bed teaching hospital that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, research, and treatment of heart, lung, and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has been a regional and nationally recognized leader throughout its 100-year history, during which time it has healed 2.3 million patients from every corner of the United States and 87 countries in the world. From performing the first open heart surgeries (adult and pediatric) in New Jersey, to running one of the highest volume left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant programs in the region, Deborah has stood at the forefront of medical innovation, all while never wavering from its founding mission “there is no price on life.” Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in the country; and is designated a national Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. Deborah is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.