WILMINGTON – When The Christ Hospital Health Network opened the Ohio Heart & Vascular center in Clinton County in 1987, Intervention Cardiologist John Schneider, MD, would see just two or three patients at day.

Today, he sees as many as 40 patients each day.

“It’s been very rewarding to take care of these patients from the community and then to follow them over the years,” Dr. Schneider said. “To have those kind of on-going relationships is very, very rewarding. And I believe the people in Wilmington and the surrounding area have benefitted from the relationship tremendously.”

The Christ Hospital Physicians Ohio Heart & Vascular center is celebrating its 30th anniversary of serving the patients of Wilmington, Clinton County and surrounding communities. Over the past three decades the facility has grown from just two physicians to a full-time cardiologist, congestive heart failure specialist, a structural heart disease physician, an expert in pulmonary hypertension and a heart rhythm specialist that is known as an electro physiologist.

Christopher Wright, MD, is from Hillsboro. Since arriving in Wilmington four years ago, he has become the first full-time cardiologist to consistently practice in the community.

“It was with great pride that I was able to return to the area and help the community that I have been familiar with my entire life,” Dr. Wright said. “And there is no better indication that a practice or a physician can show of their dedication to a community, than how long the practice has been present.

“Through good times, as well as many bad economic years, Christ Hospital has continued to provide care and support the community, and with ongoing hard work and support, will continue to do so for many more years,” he said.

Locating a practice in Wilmington is an example of The Christ Hospital model of taking care to where patients live, Dr. Schneider said.

“Clinton County isn’t the only place we have done this,” Dr. Schneider said. “We have opened facilities in Adams County, Ohio, and Batesville, Indiana and other places as well. In Wilmington, we bring sub-specialists — not just general cardiology — to the people here so they don’t have to travel 50 miles to the main Christ Hospital campus in Cincinnati to see a specialist. We believe that taking care of the patients and having their office visits on site is not only convenient but also the best way to deliver the highest level of care.”

John Anthony Riley of New Vienna appreciates The Christ Hospital’s presence in the community.

Riley, 54, the owner of Ohio Valley Lightning Protection, a lightning rod installation and service business, underwent open heart surgery just over two months ago after being diagnosed with heart problems at The Christ Hospital in Wilmington.

“I’d been feeling worn out and tired for about a year,” Riley said. “I thought it was just old age and hard work catching up with me. But it turns out it was my heart, and it was the doctors at The Christ Hospital that figured that out after a stress test.”

Riley was initially treated by Dr. Wright, who detected abnormalities in his heart. The open heart surgery was performed by Geoffrey Answini, MD, an interventional cardiologist with The Christ Hospital.

“I can’t believe how good I feel,” Riley said. “I was up and walking around 24 hours later. And I’m back to work, climbing ladders, I’m lifting weights, I spend 30 minutes on the treadmill, 30 minutes on an elliptical. It’s amazing.”

Riley said his family benefitted from The Christ Hospital Chapter of Mended Hearts, a support group for heart patients and their families. Riley said the group was so helpful to his wife that he is considering volunteering.

“I’m just so grateful that patients like me have access to the top quality care that The Christ Hospital provides right here in our community,” he said. “It made a difference in my life.”

Dr. Wright said The Christ Hospital offers “an unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of care possible to Clinton County.”

“Christ hospital has kept on the cutting edge of technology in cardiac disease,” he said. “Many of the latest technologies offered at Christ cannot be found elsewhere. To have both the highest quality of care with the latest technology available, and offer this to patients in Clinton County, that otherwise might not have access, is what makes our work here so important.”