Progressive South Florida health care organizations that seek to establish outstanding cardiovascular programs, or to transform existing ones, will now have convenient regional access to one of the nation’s premier cardiovascular consulting and recruitment firms.

Corazon, Inc, the award-winning, nationally recognized leader in specialized consulting services for strategic development of cardiovascular programs, has opened an office location in Fort Lauderdale. Corazon’s presence in South Florida will enable the region’s tertiary care centers, community hospitals and specialty hospitals to tap into the rich resources, clinical expertise and business acumen that have made Corazon an industry leader in six short but highly productive years. The dynamic and growing company has clients in 37 states and has distinguished itself by the depth and breadth of its services and the exemplary quality of its team of experts, each of whom brings a wealth of experience in various facets of cardiovascular program development. Corazon, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, has assisted hundreds of facilities to plan, design and implement superior cardiovascular programs that improve patient outcomes, garner greater market share, improve overall operations and enhance financial stability.

“The opening of this office gives Corazon the opportunity to develop a presence in this region and offer our brand of expertise to hospitals. We believe that the high need for cardiovascular services here, and the recent changes in regulations for cardiovascular services, makes South Florida an ideal location for Corazon,” says Jackie Johnson, the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to working with healthcare organizations in this region, helping them turn their visions into reality.”

Corazon provides a full spectrum of services, beginning with feasibility studies, market assessment, financial analysis and certificate of need application. The interdisciplinary Corazon project team collaborates with the client throughout every phase of the process, including facility design, staffing, recruitment of key personnel and program implementation. Corazon consultation encompasses all facets of program design and support, with staff education and training, integration of new technologies, board of director retreats, best practice assessments, program marketing and leadership development among the many services offered.

Steve Geyer, Regional Manager of the South Florida office, is enthusiastic about working with new clients here.

“Corazon offers a broad range of specialized services with a balance of clinical and business capacities. We want to assist hospitals here to find solutions to their challenges and achieve their greatest potential in cardiovascular services, offering patients the highest quality advanced care while streamlining operations for the organizations. We have hired our first consultant from this region and we plan to bring more local experts to our team. This office will be seamlessly integrated with the Corazon office in Pittsburgh and will offer the same exceptional services.”

Corazon is prepared to begin offering consultation services to South Florida clients immediately, says Karen Hartman, Corazon’s president. The company held a regional conference in Orlando earlier this year and will repeat that offering this summer in Boca Raton, giving local professionals and administrators a chance to become acquainted with the Corazon approach. “We’re excited about being in Florida,” Hartman says. “Corazon considered many potential sites across the country for our second office and we chose South Florida. We’re eager to share our progressive thinking and passion for excellence in cardiovascular care.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and the aging of the baby boomers is likely to produce an even greater need for “heart hospitals.” As one of the most rapidly evolving specialties within health care, cardiovascular care demands constant adaptation and education to stay on the cutting edge of emerging diagnostic and treatment trends, research and advances in technology. Corazon’s staff engages national medical experts as advisors to stay abreast of developments in the field and maintain their own proficiency and expertise. “Education is a significant part of our mission,” says Hartman, “for us and our clients. Through our consulting services, the books we’ve published, our conferences and Corazon Academy, we bring people together to learn.”

The establishment of a local office gives providers here an incentive to evaluate their cardiovascular programs and plan strategically to elevate them, capture new markets and meet the future needs of the community. With its excellent reputation and solid record of helping hospitals grow through cardiovascular programs, Corazon makes a substantial difference in both quality and cost of cardiovascular care.

“Financial performance and clinical performance go hand-in-hand,” says Johnson. “We make a difference for our clients on every level, helping them to distinguish themselves from the competition and become the destination of choice for patients.

“The center of everything that Corazon does is always the patient – everything we do ultimately affects how someone gets care at a critical moment in his or her life. Our mission is to help people get the highest quality care and we are here to help South Florida hospitals provide that care. Corazon wants to make a difference in this community.”