Development of a Cardiovascular Surgical Program in a Recently Created Third Level Hospital: A Systems-Based Approach to Cardiovascular Surgical Services in a Regionalized Health System

This work focuses on the experiences related to the development of a cardiovascular surgical program in a recently created third level hospital in the context of a Mexican Regionalization Project for Health Services. It is a personal compilation of the author throughout his professional career, emphasizing the pioneering spirit as a primary guideline. It provides original information on the four core areas of medical practice: planning and administration, clinical practice, basic and clinical research, and teaching. Each chapter presents the main actions carried out in each of these areas and provides the foundations and recommendations for their application in replicable settings at the national and international levels. The book is aimed at surgeons, clinicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, instrumentalists, perfusionists, intensivists, researchers, administrators, and other healthcare personnel dedicated to the cardiovascular field. It highlights the importance of coordinated teamwork to achieve the quality that patients seeking care deserve for their health needs in general, and for congenital and acquired heart diseases in particular. It constitutes an important reference that lays the bases that professionals seek to reach the excellence in cardiovascular clinical and surgical practice.