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66º | Heavy thunderstorms | 90% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. | Sunset 5:32 p.m.
 

Healthcare

Lexington Medical Center receives nation’s highest rating for heart surgery
Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
lexington-medical-center-doctors-cardiothoracic-surgery.jpeg
Congrats are in order for Lexington Medical Center cardiothoracic surgeons Heather M. Currier, MD; Jeffrey A. Travis, MD; and William M. Yarbrough, MD. | Photo by Jeff Amberg
Lexington Medical Heart and Vascular Center has once again received three-star ratings for heart surgery — read: the highest measure of quality awarded by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Here’s why this is heart-ly something to gloss over: Fewer than 10% of hospitals in the country earn this elite distinction, and Lexington Medical Center is the only South Carolina hospital included among them. Historically, only 4-7% of database participants (more on this in a minute) in the US and Canada achieve this prestigious designation, which recognizes quality patient and clinical outcome excellence.

About that database: The STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database is the world’s premier clinical registry for cardiac surgery. It currently houses ~8 million surgical records, has 3,600+ participating physicians, and represents more than 95% of the groups that perform cardiac surgery in the US.

With this elite rating, LMC has been recognized for its patient care and outcomes in three types of heart surgery: aortic valve replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting, and mitral valve replacement and repair.

“The mission of Lexington Medical Center has always been to provide high-quality health care that meets the needs of our communities, and our cardiovascular care continues to be recognized at the highest levels,” says Jeffrey A. Travis, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon at Lexington Medical Heart and Vascular Center. “This accomplishment underscores a large team that works tirelessly to care for our patients.”

Lisa Pittman, RN, MSN, outcomes coordinator in the Center for Quality Outcomes for Lexington Medical Heart and Vascular Center, also attributes the department’s recent distinction to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration among the entire heart team at Lexington Medical Center. “It exemplifies our commitment to providing the highest quality care to our communities.”

LMC began its complete cardiac care program in 2012 with expectations to perform ~100 open heart surgeries each year — but the program has far exceeded expectations. To date, LMC has performed more than 4,650 open heart surgeries (an average of ~400 surgeries each year).

Learn more about Lexington Medical Heart and Vascular Center.*
Asked

What is the ideal blood pressure reading?
A. 110/70 or below
B. 120/80 or below
C. 140/90 or below
Answer here
Lexington Medical Center
 
Events
Thursday, June 1
  • Jazz on the River | Thursday, Jun. 1 | 6-9 p.m. | West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater, 109 Alexander Rd., West Columbia | Free | Enjoy this free concert series that returns to West Columbia’s Riverwalk Amphitheater every Thursday evening through June 1.
  • First Thursday on Main Street | Thursday, Jun. 1 | 6 p.m. | Main Street, Columbia | On the first Thursday of each month, businesses in downtown Columbia participate in First Thursday on Main by keeping their doors open late, offering a mix of specials, events, entertainment, and more.
  • Lexington County Blowfish Home Game | Thursday, June 1 | 7 p.m. | Lexington County Baseball Stadium, 474 Ball Park Rd., Lexington | $9.50 | The Lexington County Blowfish are a summer collegiate baseball team in the Coastal Plain League and will play the Forest City Owls.
Friday, June 2
  • Midlands Clay Arts Society Spring Sale | Friday, Jun. 2 | Times vary | Stormwater Studios, 413 Pendleton St., Columbia | Free | Local ceramic artists will showcase their sculptural, functional, and whimsical wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramic art.
  • Nashville Nights Concert Series | Friday, Jun. 2 | 6 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Nashville Nights feature talented singer/songwriters traveling from Nashville, TN for special live music performances on stage, and who are writing and touring with some of the biggest names in music.
Saturday, June 3
  • Makers’ Mall | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | Free | On the first Saturday and Sunday of each month the Friday night NoMa Flea will turn into the weekend Makers’ Mall so you can still shop all the vendors, makers, creators, curators, and more during its regular weekend shopping hours.
  • The Market at Icehouse | Saturday, June 3 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Icehouse Amphitheater, 107 West Main St., Lexington | Free | Enjoy a farmer/grower and local artisan market that promotes, supports, and encourages local production while educating citizens on the benefits of eating local, fresh produce.
  • Greenville Jazz Fest | Sat., Jun. 3 | 4-10 p.m. | Main Street, Downtown, Greenville | Free | Experience jazz music in the streets of Downtown Greenville at this inaugural festival — food and beverages will be on site for purchase.*
  • West Columbia’s Meeting Street Artisan Market | Sat., June 3 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting Street, West Columbia | Free | Enjoy a boutique shopping experience, park, play, eat + explore at the Meeting Street Artisan Market every Saturday.*
Sunday, June 4
  • Local Jokels Sunday Comedy Brunch | Sunday, Jun. 4 | 1 p.m. | The Aristocrat, 1001 Washington St., Columbia | Free with food purchase | Laugh along to a free comedy show while you enjoy brunch and refreshing libations.
Say hello to June events
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euphoria
 
News Notes
Development
  • Three bridges on I-20, near Kershaw County, that go over the Wateree River will be receiving maintenance by either being rehabilitated or replaced. Construction is expected to begin in 2024. (WLTX)
Sports
  • The Gamecocks will face the Georgia Bulldogs + kickoff their SEC play on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in Athens. This will be a nationally-televised game on CBS, marking USC’s first appearance on CBS since 2019. (Gamecocks Online)
Real Estate
  • $257,918. That’s the average sales price of a home in the first quarter of 2023 for the Greater Columbia Area — that’s 21.7% higher than 2021’s first quarter. The State talks more about home prices and shows what you could purchase with $150,000. (The State)
Shop
  • Bierkeller Columbia is selling pre-opening merch in its new online store. If you place an order before 12 p.m. on Friday, June 2 it’ll treat you to both a behind-the-scenes look at the almost-complete brewery and give you a peek at its expanded beer menu.
Festival
  • The 10th annual Reggaetronic Lake Murray Music Festival will take place on June 17 at Spence Island. This free-floating music festival celebrates modern reggae, funk, rock, and electronic music. Reggaetronic is free and will run from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Biz
  • If you didn’t know, Good Life Cafe has moved from Main Street to Taylor Street and is now nestled between Hotel Trundle + Icon on Taylor. Just look for the green-painted brick and you’ll know you’re in the right place. Pro tip: This fully vegan restaurant is stocked with freshly-squeezed, grab-n-go juices.
Award
The Word
  • Harissa. This flavorful, versatile spice goes with just about anything, featuring a burst of heat from aleppo peppers. Pro tip: Try it sprinkled over these foods.*
Kids
  • Looking for a way to keep the kiddos active all summer long, rain or shine? Enter: Kids Bowl Free, a national program that connects you with local bowling alleys like Royal Z Lanes where kids can receive two free games of bowling each day. Learn more and sign up.*
Environment
  • Slippery surfaces are a main culprit in slip and fall accidents — which is often caused by dirt, algae, mold, oil, grease, or other build-up. The best way to mitigate this risk is regular pressure washing. Enter: Ford & Sims Pressure Washing, LLC, providing a safe and clean environment.*
The Blood Connection
 
Lifestyle

What you missed in May

A quick recap of things you probably missed happening in Columbia
Village Idiot
Village Idiot Pizza is franchising. | Photo provided by Village Idiot Pizza | Jason E Williams
Hey, we get it — May was cray. The school year is wrapping up, summer camp registration deadlines are approaching, and vacations are being finalized.

With your attention being pulled in every which way, you’ve probably missed a few nuggets of news over the last few weeks, or forgot to open a newsletter or two. Don’t fret, we’re giving you a quick rundown of five things you may have missed.
  1. Village Idiot, a local pizza joint that has been in operation for over 30 years, has decided to franchise.
  2. Riverbanks Zoo announced a new, larger habitat for its Komodo dragons.
  3. We announced our summer Drink Up initiative.
  4. EdVenture Children’s Museum got a rebrand, and Eddie has a new friend.
  5. The Robinson Room, which used to be located under the Grand, relocated to 1614 Main St.
Best way to stay up-to-date? Follow our socials + open our newsletters every morning — even if it’s just for a skim.
Vista Guild
 
The Wrap
 
Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam
From the editor
You may see another face at the bottom of the newsletter over the next week. I’m going to be out of the office for a bit as I travel the world, but don’t worry — I won’t be gone long. While I am exploring parts of Europe, one of our National City Editors, Jessa, will be popping into the COLAtoday newsletters. She’s a COLA pro + some of you may recognize her from local content she’s created in the past.

Answered: B. The ideal blood pressure reading is 120/80 or below. Did you know? High blood pressure not only increases one’s risk for heart disease, but it’s also the most important risk factor for stroke.
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