New BRMC 'Center of Excellence'
By George Nianiatus
Senior Writer, Communications Department
Because of the ever-increasing amount of state-of-the-art vein, vascular and endovascular surgery being performed at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), the hospital has designated Allegheny Vein & Vascular as its latest Center of Excellence.
Allegheny Vein & Vascular, located on the third floor of BRMC’s Outpatient Services Center, is led by Robert W. Tahara, M.D., board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, who has become an innovations leader in vein and vascular surgery.
“For the past six years, Dr. Tahara has been bringing revolutionary procedures such as arterial stenting, endovasular aneurysm repair, and most recently the VNUS Closure procedure to this region. These are surgical procedures that are normally available only in metropolitan areas,” says BRMC President/CEO George E. Leonhardt.
“Dr. Tahara has developed an unparalleled expertise and reputation in vascular surgery both throughout the region and well beyond. This has lead BRMC to designate his hospital practice as our newest Center for Excellence,” the BRMC president says.
Furthermore, “Our vascular surgery program is locally conceived but nationally recognized for not only the number of procedures we perform annually but the cutting-edge technology which is used,” Mr. Leonhardt notes.
Dr. Tahara, BRMC’s director of Peripheral Interventions, says, “Allegheny Vein & Vascular is a newly dedicated Center of Excellence which will be able to focus intensively on vascular disease.”
The vascular system is the body’s network of blood vessels. It includes the arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from the heart. Problems of the vascular system are common and can often be serious, threatening either life or limb, the surgeon says.
“Our broad experience and the cutting-edge technology we use place us among the leaders in the country regarding many of the vein and vascular procedures we perform,” Dr. Tahara says.
Among the many vascular and endovascular surgeries Dr. Tahara performs, he is the regional leader in what’s called the VNUS Closure procedure. The VNUS Closure procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that treats varicose veins and their underlying cause, venous reflux, with little or no pain. VNUS Closure patients can walk away from the vein procedure and be back to everyday activities -- either at home or work -- typically within a day.
“We’re averaging approximately 400 VNUS Closure procedures annually. This is among the highest number in the country for a single surgeon -- no matter what the hospital size,” says Dr. Tahara.
Because of his expertise with this procedure and his growing teaching reputation, he was recently selected to the faculty for the national VNUS Total Vein Care Course where he will instruct other physicians in advanced vein care procedures. In the coming months, Allegheny Vein & Vascular will be making another announcement which will increase its ability to perform a greater number of vascular surgeries, Mr. Leonhardt adds.
“I’m very excited about what we’re developing at Bradford Regional in terms of enhanced capabilities to improve the health of this community and well beyond,” BRMC’s president says.
In 2002, Dr. Tahara joined BRMC’s medical staff. Within the first six months, he began using stents rather than vein grafting to treat serious blockages in patients' leg arteries. In 2003, he performed BRMC’s first renal stent procedure, and shortly afterwards began treating peripheral artery aneurysms with endovascular covered stent grafts. In April 2004, Dr. Tahara began using the then-newly FDA-approved endovascular surgery technique at BRMC called CryoPlasty. The technique was developed to bring relief to those who suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a narrowing or blockage of the blood flow to arteries in the leg.
Just a few months later, Dr. Tahara was credited with first using the new AngioJet (R) Thrombectomy System at BRMC, a minimally invasive treatment for patients with blood clots in their extremities. In 2005, Dr Tahara was the first physician in the United States to use the then-newly approved Neovasc Metricath system for clinical cases. The Metricath system uses a novel balloon technology to measure blood vessels to assist with accurate sizing of stents and balloons used to open blocked peripheral arteries. In 2007, Dr Tahara brought endovascular aortic aneurysm repair to Bradford Regional, using covered stent grafts, miniature incisions, and an overnight stay to repair aortic aneurysms instead of the traditional open surgery requiring large incisions and prolonged hospital stays. Previously, such new technologies were only available in larger urban settings.
“The patients we’ve already helped are profoundly grateful that we’ve made their care, treatment and recovery easier,” Dr. Tahara says.
In considering BRMC’s future as the region’s leader in peripheral interventions, Dr. Tahara says Bradford Regional’s vision will continue to expand.
“They’ve shown a strong commitment to the level of quality that we are already recognized for and continue to build upon. With the advanced training of our staff, the angio suite endovascular team, up-to-date facilities and advanced technology, we already have a winning combination,” the surgeon notes.
The Niagara Falls, N.Y., native received his medical degree with honors from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He then was on active duty with the U.S. Navy as a Diving Medical Officer supporting U.S. Naval Special Operations. Following his release from the military, he then served as Chief Resident in Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
For further information about any surgical or diagnostic procedures Dr. Tahara performs, his office can be reached by calling 814-368-8490 or 1-866-959-VEIN. Online information can be found at www.brmc.com and also www.alleghenyvein.com.
Senior Writer, Communications Department
Because of the ever-increasing amount of state-of-the-art vein, vascular and endovascular surgery being performed at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), the hospital has designated Allegheny Vein & Vascular as its latest Center of Excellence.Allegheny Vein & Vascular, located on the third floor of BRMC’s Outpatient Services Center, is led by Robert W. Tahara, M.D., board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, who has become an innovations leader in vein and vascular surgery.
“For the past six years, Dr. Tahara has been bringing revolutionary procedures such as arterial stenting, endovasular aneurysm repair, and most recently the VNUS Closure procedure to this region. These are surgical procedures that are normally available only in metropolitan areas,” says BRMC President/CEO George E. Leonhardt.
“Dr. Tahara has developed an unparalleled expertise and reputation in vascular surgery both throughout the region and well beyond. This has lead BRMC to designate his hospital practice as our newest Center for Excellence,” the BRMC president says.
Furthermore, “Our vascular surgery program is locally conceived but nationally recognized for not only the number of procedures we perform annually but the cutting-edge technology which is used,” Mr. Leonhardt notes.
Dr. Tahara, BRMC’s director of Peripheral Interventions, says, “Allegheny Vein & Vascular is a newly dedicated Center of Excellence which will be able to focus intensively on vascular disease.”
The vascular system is the body’s network of blood vessels. It includes the arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from the heart. Problems of the vascular system are common and can often be serious, threatening either life or limb, the surgeon says.
“Our broad experience and the cutting-edge technology we use place us among the leaders in the country regarding many of the vein and vascular procedures we perform,” Dr. Tahara says.
Among the many vascular and endovascular surgeries Dr. Tahara performs, he is the regional leader in what’s called the VNUS Closure procedure. The VNUS Closure procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that treats varicose veins and their underlying cause, venous reflux, with little or no pain. VNUS Closure patients can walk away from the vein procedure and be back to everyday activities -- either at home or work -- typically within a day.
“We’re averaging approximately 400 VNUS Closure procedures annually. This is among the highest number in the country for a single surgeon -- no matter what the hospital size,” says Dr. Tahara.
Because of his expertise with this procedure and his growing teaching reputation, he was recently selected to the faculty for the national VNUS Total Vein Care Course where he will instruct other physicians in advanced vein care procedures. In the coming months, Allegheny Vein & Vascular will be making another announcement which will increase its ability to perform a greater number of vascular surgeries, Mr. Leonhardt adds.
“I’m very excited about what we’re developing at Bradford Regional in terms of enhanced capabilities to improve the health of this community and well beyond,” BRMC’s president says.
In 2002, Dr. Tahara joined BRMC’s medical staff. Within the first six months, he began using stents rather than vein grafting to treat serious blockages in patients' leg arteries. In 2003, he performed BRMC’s first renal stent procedure, and shortly afterwards began treating peripheral artery aneurysms with endovascular covered stent grafts. In April 2004, Dr. Tahara began using the then-newly FDA-approved endovascular surgery technique at BRMC called CryoPlasty. The technique was developed to bring relief to those who suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a narrowing or blockage of the blood flow to arteries in the leg.
Just a few months later, Dr. Tahara was credited with first using the new AngioJet (R) Thrombectomy System at BRMC, a minimally invasive treatment for patients with blood clots in their extremities. In 2005, Dr Tahara was the first physician in the United States to use the then-newly approved Neovasc Metricath system for clinical cases. The Metricath system uses a novel balloon technology to measure blood vessels to assist with accurate sizing of stents and balloons used to open blocked peripheral arteries. In 2007, Dr Tahara brought endovascular aortic aneurysm repair to Bradford Regional, using covered stent grafts, miniature incisions, and an overnight stay to repair aortic aneurysms instead of the traditional open surgery requiring large incisions and prolonged hospital stays. Previously, such new technologies were only available in larger urban settings.
“The patients we’ve already helped are profoundly grateful that we’ve made their care, treatment and recovery easier,” Dr. Tahara says.
In considering BRMC’s future as the region’s leader in peripheral interventions, Dr. Tahara says Bradford Regional’s vision will continue to expand.
“They’ve shown a strong commitment to the level of quality that we are already recognized for and continue to build upon. With the advanced training of our staff, the angio suite endovascular team, up-to-date facilities and advanced technology, we already have a winning combination,” the surgeon notes.
The Niagara Falls, N.Y., native received his medical degree with honors from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He then was on active duty with the U.S. Navy as a Diving Medical Officer supporting U.S. Naval Special Operations. Following his release from the military, he then served as Chief Resident in Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
For further information about any surgical or diagnostic procedures Dr. Tahara performs, his office can be reached by calling 814-368-8490 or 1-866-959-VEIN. Online information can be found at www.brmc.com and also www.alleghenyvein.com.
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