Presbyterian Health Foundation Awards Funds for New State-of-the-Art Pediatric Cardiac Ultrasound Units to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health.

The Presbyterian Health Foundation has awarded more than $590,000 to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health to purchase two new state-of-the-art pediatric cardiac ultrasound units for children in need of complex heart surgeries.

These new systems will upgrade the suite of equipment for the pediatric surgical units at the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health Heart Center, providing significant enhancements in the available ultrasound technology. The new technology will elevate the excellence in care, workflow and access for young heart patients, as well as provide important data to further understand the multifaceted complexities of heart conditions in children to provide the best surgical solutions.

The Oklahoma Children’s Hospital pediatric cardiothoracic surgical team is led by nationally renowned surgeon, Harold Burkhart, M.D. Burkhart and his team use advanced surgical techniques and minimally invasive procedures to care for young patients with congenital heart disease, acquired heart disease, heart murmurs and arrythmias. The surgical team has achieved outstanding surgical results well above the national average — a distinction very few programs in the country have achieved. This includes designation of a Top 50 Best Children’s Hospital in the nation for Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report.  

“The Oklahoma Children’s Hospital Heart Center is rapidly becoming the go-to place for pediatric heart care and surgery,” said Presbyterian Health Foundation Chairman, Tom R. Gray, III. “Dr. Harold Burkhart and his talented team have worked hard to ensure our youngest patients have world-class care right here at home, and we are thrilled to provide these new units to further elevate this rising center of excellence.”

Every year, as a high-volume pediatric cardiac surgery center, Oklahoma Children’s Hospital receives more than 10,000 pediatric cardiology visits and performs more than 500 pediatric heart surgeries. With over 150 highly skilled physicians, surgeons, nurses and specialists who focus on caring for the smallest hearts and the widest range of complex congenital conditions, heart patients benefit from the most comprehensive methods available in Oklahoma.

“I would like to thank Presbyterian Health Foundation for this incredibly generous gift that will allow us to have daily dedicated cardiac imaging in the operating room,” said Burkhart. “It will truly make a difference in the surgical management of our complex cardiac children.”

Oklahoma Children’s Hospital plans to provide pediatric heart transplant services to children in Oklahoma within the next year. The heart center is part of several ongoing multi-center national trials which has established a national reputation for pediatric cardiology and pediatric cardiothoracic surgical services on the research front.