www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com | 69 Summerville Medical Centers are among the top 5% of the nearly 4,500 hospitals in the U.S. they reviewed for clinical excellence in more than 30 outcomes and conditions." Cardiovascular surgeon James Benner, M.D., with Palmetto Cardiovascular & Thoracic Associates, has been on the hospital’s medical staff for more than 20 years. He’s a member of a large team of specialists that cared for more than 4,000 heart patients last year. “Our patients come first,” said Dr. Benner. “I’m proud of the team of specialists I get to work alongside and consult with every day at the hospital and at our outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program at Summerville Medical Center. We’re always learning from each other to provide the best care for our patients, who are increasingly in need of complex medical care.” For patients with aortic stenosis, one of the most common and most serious heart conditions, Dr. Benner and a team of other heart specialists have performed more than 250 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures through minimally invasive surgery. “TAVR is a last resort for many patients with stenosis. Of all of my patients who I talk to after surgery, they are among the most thankful,” explained Dr. Benner. “We have an experienced team of TAVR specialists like interventional cardiologists Frederick Funke, M.D.; Jason Coker, M.D.; and Patrick Looser, M.D., with Lowcountry Cardiology Associates; and my partner, cardiothoracic surgeon Karen Gersch, M.D., at Palmetto Cardiovascular & Thoracic Associates.” Trident’s heart specialists agree they are seeing an increase in younger and sicker patients with heart disease. Interventional cardiologist Monique Sandhu, M.D., said it requires the collaboration of all of the specialists to effectively manage the care of patients with increasingly complex heart disease. “We know and respect each other. And we have each other’s mobile numbers in case we need to quickly reach one of our colleagues about a patient’s care,” explained Dr. Sandhu. “That makes a big difference in an emergency.” To continue meeting the needs of Lowcountry residents who want their health care provided by the physicians and other clinicians at Trident Medical Center who have earned national rankings for quality and patient experience, the hospital is constructing a third cath lab that is scheduled to open in July 2023. For more information about Trident Health’s heart specialists, visit tridenthealthsystem.com/physicians. Monique Sandhu, M.D. Sofy Landes, M.D., left, and Natalie Hurley, RN. Amanda Blewer, PCT, Trident Medical Center Cardiac Procedures Recovery Unit
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