The Heart Center: Pediatric and Adult Cardiology

Shorter hospital stays for heart procedures

We know that shorter hospital stays are associated with better recovery and mental health outcomes for pediatric heart patients and their families. That’s why our care team has worked hard to have one of the safest and shortest hospital stays for heart defect procedures – 4 days, compared to the average of 7-14 days.

Dedicated cardiac intensive care unit

Akron Children’s new nine-bed Heart Unit is dedicated to cardiology patients. This allows patients to remain in the same room from admission to discharge, ensuring continuous care by the same specialized, multi-disciplinary, team throughout their hospital stay. This team includes:

• Pediatric Cardiologists
• Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons
• Catheterization Providers
• Intensivists, critical care nurses and respiratory therapists.

This dedicated cardiac intensive care unit model is specifically designed to improved outcomes and reduce the length of stay for our cardiac patients.

Hybrid care for less invasive heart defect repair

One of the hallmarks of our Heart Center is hybrid care, which blends surgical and catheterization approaches to treat heart defects. Our pediatric heart surgeons work with interventional cardiologists to repair certain types of heart defects in babies, who otherwise would have to wait until they're big enough to undergo open heart surgery. Less invasive procedures promote faster recoveries and may reduce the need for multiple surgeries.

Pioneers in treating abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia)

Akron Children’s is at the forefront in treating pediatric heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). One of our providers developed a procedure to repair irregular heartbeats without the radiation commonly used in such procedures. We are also the first pediatric hospital in Ohio to use cryoablation, a technique that uses low temperatures to successfully destroy abnormal electrical pathways in the heart to restore a normal rhythm.

Recognized dedication to diagnosing heart disease

In recognition of our commitment to quality testing for the diagnosis of heart disease, we've been accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories in the areas of pediatric and fetal echocardiography.

Enhancing care through collaboration

The Heart Center’s collaboration with Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute enhances the excellent surgical care at Akron Children’s by providing advanced care for patients needing heart transplant and Norwood procedures, while maintaining continuity of care and support close to home for families. This collaboration also extends to certain congenital heart patients, giving them an immediate second opinion through an expanded network, providing critical analysis of their congenital heart defect, and ensuring the highest level of specialized heart care.