Southampton Hospital heart center holds groundbreaking

Southampton residents soon will have greater access to cardiovascular services, thanks to a new addition at Southampton Hospital.

The hospital broke ground last week on the new Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart and Stroke Center, named after the benefactors who donated $5 million for the facility.

“It is well-known that the over-50 age group has the highest probability of experiencing a stroke or heart attack. With many of us spending months or weekends year-round in Southampton and the East End, Martin and I felt it was important that our local hospital have the capability to conduct stroke and vascular distress intervention,” said Audrey Gruss, president of the Audrey and Martin Gruss Foundation.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among all Americans, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was the leading cause of death for Long Islanders in 2011, the last year for which data was available, according to the state Department of Health.

Construction on the state-of-the-art facility is slated to begin this fall.

When completed, the center will include an advanced endovascular surgical suite, a noninvasive cardiovascular suite and a stroke and heart simulation education center. The new facility will provide stroke treatment and carotid stents as needed without residents having to travel to central Long Island.

“This critically important initiative will undoubtedly save lives, and we are grateful for the Grusses’ generosity and commitment to quality health care in our community,” said Robert S. Chaloner, president and chief executive of Southampton Hospital.