HealthyUMAGAZINE JAN 09

University’s New Heart & Vascular Institute NOW OPEN!

UNIvErsIty HospItAl’s new Heart & Vascular Institute is more than just a collection of glass, steel, bricks and mortar.

This world-class facility has been thoughtfully and masterfully designed around the patient experience. It brings together healing, family focused care and decades of clinical experience that supports patients from diagnosis to rehabilitation – and it’s all under one roof. It is truly a reflection of University’s ongo-ing commitment to this community.

From concept to execution, University’s staff, physicians, board members and volunteers have donated their time and effort to help ensure that University Hospital remains the region’s cardiovas-cular leader.

University has a long history of cardiovascular excellence, with its services being ranked by the National Research Corporation as most-preferred by area consumers for 10 years in a row.

The new facility takes advantage of that distinc-tion by pulling together all aspects of cardiovascu-lar health – from the latest technology in all-digital catheterization, to the region’s only cardiac reha-bilitation program to receive national accreditation by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

University is proud to have the only vascular lab in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to receive accreditation in all five areas of testing from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories.

Cardiac patients at can feel secure that their vital signs are being monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week with University Hospital’s housewide moni-toring system housed on a protected frequency.

The level of care cardiac patients receive at University Hospital also has been honored as a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac CareSM.

Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care have demonstrated their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for cardiac patients. Each facility meets stringent clinical crite-ria, developed in collaboration with expert physician panels and national medical societies, including the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

The facility itself is the largest, most compre-hensive in the region, with nearly 200,000 square feet of space that includes all-new, state-of-the-art operating rooms.

Within its walls, University has brought together decades of clinical experience and even genera-tions of physicians. That breadth of knowledge has been recognized by The Best Doctors in America, which collects up to 1.5 million evaluations annu-ally to help identify specialists who are considered by fellow physicians to be the most skilled in their fields. Among the 120 physicians listed that prac-tice at University Hospital, 12 cardiovascular physi-cians were singled out as among the top in their field in 2008.

University’s cardiovascular physicians have been recognized, in part, because University treats more cardiac patients than all other area hospitals com-bined. And they are supported by a nursing staff that has achieved Magnet Designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, consid-ered one of the highest designations that can be received for outstanding achievements in nursing.

Patients in the Heart & Vascular Institute ben-efit from the facility’s new model of care, which includes open family visitation as well as a high nurse-to-patient ratio. The Institute’s healing envi-ronment supplements the technological and physi-cian expertise.

After years of planning and construction, the staff, physicians, board members and volunteers are proud to welcome patients to University’s Heart & Vascular Institute, the region’s leader in cardio-vascular care. v

Forging a Path to the FutureUniversity’s Heart & Vascular Institute opens its doors to better cardiovascular health

Health News

University’s Heart & Vascular Institute is the largest, most com-prehensive site in the region, with nearly 200,000 square feet of space that includes all-new, state-of-the-art operating rooms.

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lEAvING tHE HospItAl after a heart attack is just the first step on what can be a long road to recovery.

The immediate concerns include healing from hospital procedures, but heart patients need to also look to the future and consider how their condition can and will change their life.

For many heart patients at University Hospital, car-diac rehabilitation is the scaffolding on which they rebuild their health. They know they are receiving the best care available, especially since the hospi-tal’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program is the only one in the region certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. This means the program has “met the strict stan-dards” of the association and is dedicated to pro-viding high-quality care for its cardiac patients.

Cardiac rehabilitation is more than just an exer-cise program. It’s a two-pronged approach that helps heart patients learn ways to improve their health, both physically and mentally.

On the physical side, cardiac rehab helps recondi-tion the body through monitored exercise sessions with a trained staff.

“Every patient has a formalized exercise prescrip-tion that’s taken from their evaluation and says what they’ll do while they’re here,” said Victoria Burt, a nurse practitioner in University’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation department.

University’s cardiac rehabilitation doesn’t focus solely on cardiovascular training. Patients also are encouraged to use the center’s weight machines to strengthen their muscles – which also works to strengthen the heart.

“Think of lifting a chair,” Ms. Burt said. “If your muscles are weak, that makes your heart have to work that much harder.”

Toned arms and legs means patients won’t strain as much to do daily activities, which keeps the heart rate down and makes breathing easier.

On the flip side of the physical training, University’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation department also looks into the mental aspect of having a heart event.

Lifestyle classes touch on subjects ranging from changing your diet to reducing stress – two major topics that can complicate heart conditions.

Thomas Draper, of Augusta, said University’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program is well worth the effort.

“Since you’re monitored during the exercise, I feel safe so I’m able to give everything I’ve got,” said the 69-year-old, who had double bypass surgery at University Hospital in May 2008.

Mr. Draper, who enrolled in an 18-week rehabilita-tion program at University, said the experience was so positive, he plans to continue attending sessions at the facility even after he graduates.

“The program is more than worthwhile,” he said. “If you just diet, that’s only one phase of it, and you need that exercise to get the full benefits.” v

For more information about University’s Cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation Center, call 706/774-2229 or log on to www.universityhealth.org.

Health News

Paving the Road to Heart HealthCardiac rehabilitation helps heart patients build strength, endurance to live a healthier life

For many heart patients at University Hospital, cardiac rehabilitation is the scaffolding on which they rebuild their health.

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EvEry dAy, yoU probAbly pAss A pErsoN whose life is protected by a piece of technology smaller than a credit card.

The device, an implantable defibrillator, works in two medical situations, according to David Clark, M.D., a cardiac electrophysiologist who practices at University Hospital.

In the first scenario, a person would have a device implanted if they have a dangerous heart rhythm and were resuscitated by paramedics. In the sec-ond situation, a person might be implanted with a defibrillator if they’ve had a heart attack or chronic heart failure and are at risk of developing a danger-ous heart rhythm.

Implantable defibrillators, which have been used for about 20 years, are designed to monitor the heart and send an electrical shock inside the heart should a dangerous rhythm develop, which can cause sudden death.

“The defibrillator detects a dangerous rhythm

within about two seconds and immediately jump starts it, putting it back into normal rhythm and saving that patient’s life,” Dr. Clark said.

Although it sounds like technology from the future, Dr. Clark noted that the procedure is done frequently at University Hospital.

“It’s more common than people think,” he said.The technology also is improving over time. The

devices can now be monitored in a physician’s office via a wireless connection that gives physi-cians all the details of the patient’s history.

“We can see exactly what happened to them at home; if there are any heart rate problems,” Dr. Clark said. “We can slow or speed up the pacemaker por-tion of the device, and we know when the batteries are about to rundown.”

For those who suspect that they might have a heart condition that would require an implantable defibrillator, Dr. Clark suggested that they see a heart specialist.

“If you’ve ever had a heart attack or chronic heart failure, you need to have your heart specialist perform an echo cardiogram to look at your heart’s strength and if your heart is weak, you might be someone who would benefit from this type of device.” v

For more information about sudden heart death, call University’s AsK-A-NUrsE at 706/737-8423 or toll free at 800/476-7378.

Health News

A Shock tothe SystemImplantable defibrillators keep dangerous heart rhythms on track

sUddEN CArdIAC AttACK occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beat-ing. When this occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if not treated in minutes.

The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rhythm of the heartbeat. Problems with the electrical system can cause abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs). There are many types of arrhythmia. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or it can stop beating. SCA occurs when the heart develops an arrhythmia that causes it to stop beating.

SCA is not the same thing as a heart attack. A heart attack is a problem with blocked blood flow to a part of the heart muscle. In a heart attack, the heart usually does not suddenly stop beat-ing. SCA, however, may happen during recovery from a heart attack.

Source: National Institutes of Health

“We can see exactly what happened to [the patient] at home; if there are any heart rate problems.” - David Clark, M.D., Cardiology

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pHysICIANs wANt pEoplE to KNow the most common symptoms of heart attack. They and orga-nizations such as the American Heart Association have spent decades going over it again and again in the hopes that it sinks in. But sometimes, even potential heart trouble can creep up without you ever knowing it.

Denise Burckhalter, of North Augusta, is a living tes-tament to the technology used every day at University Hospital to help diagnose cardiac problems.

Mrs. Burckhalter’s story began in the spring of 2008. Her husband Charles had recently turned 60, and the couple asked their family physician if Charles should make an appointment with a cardi-ologist – just to make sure everything was OK.

“Dr. (David) Parler suggested that my husband go to University Hospital to get a CT (computed tomography) scan for a calcium score,” she said. “Dr. Parler said we’d take it from there.”

On the spur of the moment, the 58-year-old Mrs. Burckhalter decided to join her husband at University for the screening, which is used to find early stage heart disease by looking at the amount of calcium in plaque that might be on the walls of the heart’s arteries.

During the test, Mr. Burckhalter found he had small amounts of calcification common for his age.

Mrs. Burckhalter, on the other hand, got the shock of her life.

“I have to say, before I went in, I had no problems,” she said with a laugh. “I felt great.” That is, until she got the results, which said her calcium score was 1,100. “You want to have 0, and 400 is considered to be pretty bad,” she said.

A battery of tests were performed and soon after, Mrs. Burckhalter had surgery and five bypasses.

Mrs. Burckhalter’s actions might have helped save her life before she ever had any symptoms of heart disease, but others might not be so lucky to get advance warning.

Sheila Kamath, clinical coordinator for Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation at University Hospital, said there are still some very standard heart attack signs that everyone should know.

Chest discomfort is common and can include pain in the shoulder, neck and jaw, as well as short-ness of breath.

“I specifically use ‘discomfort’ instead of pain to describe it because it’s a discomfort, a pressure or heaviness,” Mrs. Kamath said.

Mrs. Kamath noted that many people, especially women, have what are called atypical symptoms that include everything from nausea, vomiting and sweating to upper back pain and an overwhelming sense of doom.

“Fatigue is sometimes a very unrecognized symp-tom of heart disease,” she said, “and it may persist for months before people even begin to consider the possibility of a heart problem.”

Mrs. Burckhalter is well on the road to recov-ery now after a stint at University Hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation unit, and she’s now a devoted cheerleader for cardiac calcium scoring.

“We have sent at least a dozen people over to get the test done,” she said, laughing. “My husband grabbed a handful of brochures about the test and we pass them out whenever we can. v

Health News

As Serious as a Heart AttackKnow the signs and symptoms

>It is vital that everyone knows and understands the major symptoms of a heart attack and to call 911 if you suspect that you or anyone else is having a heart attack.• Chestdiscomfort.Most heart attacks involve

discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

• Discomfortinotherareasoftheupperbody.Can include pain or discomfort in one or both

arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. • Shortnessofbreath.Often comes along with

chest discomfort. But it also can occur before chest discomfort.

• Other symptoms. May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness. women also can have other atypical symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Source: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

HEArt AttACK syMptoMs

NEArly 150,000 MEN ANd woMEN were diag-nosed with colorectal cancer in 2008 and nearly 50,000 died of the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Those numbers might be reduced if more people had recommended colorectal cancer screenings.

“Screening will help prevent 90 percent of col-orectal cancers, so it’s important that people start having colonoscopies at age 50, unless you are in a high-risk group that would require earlier screen-ing,” said Mark Keaton, M.D., an oncologist who practices at University Hospital.

According to the National Cancer Institute, researchers are unsure why people develop col-orectal cancer, but studies have shown that there are risk factors for the disease. They include: •AGE: Colorectal cancer is more likely to occur as

people get older. More than 90 percent of people with this disease are diagnosed after age 50. The average age at diagnosis is 72.

• ColorECtAl polyps: Polyps are growths on the inner wall of the colon or rectum. They are common in people over age 50. Most polyps are benign (not cancer), but some polyps can become cancer. Finding and removing polyps may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

• FAMIly HIstory oF ColorECtAl CANCEr: Close relatives (parents, brothers, sisters, or chil-dren) of a person with a history of colorectal cancer are somewhat more likely to develop this

disease themselves, especially if the relative had the cancer at a young age.

•GENEtIC AltErAtIoNs: Changes in certain genes increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

• pErsoNAl HIstory oF CANCEr: A person who has already had colorectal cancer may develop colorectal cancer a second time. Also, women with a history of cancer of the ovary, uterus or breast are at a somewhat higher risk of develop-ing colorectal cancer.

• UlCErAtIvE ColItIs or CroHN’s dIsEAsE: A person who has had a condition that causes inflammation of the colon for many years is at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

•dIEt: Studies suggest that diets high in fat (espe-cially animal fat) and low in calcium, folate, and fiber may increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

• CIGArEttE sMoKING: A person who smokes cigarettes may be at increased risk of developing polyps and colorectal cancer. Dr. Keaton noted that even with risk factors,

many people with colorectal cancer won’t have any noticeable symptoms.

“By the time you have symptoms, the disease is fairly far along,” he said. “If the cancer can be picked up on a colonoscopy when you don’t have any symptoms, the overall prognosis is going to be very good.” v

Health News

Knowledge is PowerScreenings can help catch colorectal cancer early

“Screening will help prevent 90 percent of colorectal cancers.” - Mark Keaton, M.D., Oncology

ColorECtAl CANCEr sCrEENING GUIdElINEsFor men and women, ages 50+

One of these five testing schedules should be followed. Your physician can help you decide which is best for you: • Yearlyfecaloccultbloodtest(FOBT)orfecal

immunochemical test (FIT) • Flexiblesigmoidoscopyeveryfiveyears• Yearly FOBT or FIT, plus flexible sigmoidos-

copy every five years • Double-contrastbariumenemaeveryfiveyears• Colonoscopyevery10years

NAtIoNAl wEAr rEd dAyFriday, Feb. 6Wear red to show your commitment to the fight against heart disease.

slEEp ApNEA ANd Its AFFECt oN tHE HEArtBashir Chaudhary, M.D., PulmonologistThursday,Feb.5•6-7:30p.m.Belair Conference Center4083 Singh Lane, AugustaFree. dinner will be served, and reservations are required. register online at www.universityhealth.org/calendar or call 706/828-2502 or toll free 866/591-2502.

CoNNECtING tHE dots bEtwEEN dIAbEtEs ANd HEArt dIsEAsERobin Petry, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator Tuesday,Feb.10•5:30-7p.m.Savannah Rapids PavilionGrand Rapids Ballroom3300 Evans to Locks Road, EvansFree. Dinner will be served, and reservations are required. register online at www.universityhealth.org/calen-dar or call 706/828-2502 or toll free 866/591-2502.

UNIvErsIty HospItAl’s HEArt & vAsCUlAr INstItUtE GrANd opENINGTuesday,Feb.17•5:30–7p.m.

EAt HEAltHy For yoUr HEArt’s sAKEKim Beavers, certified diabetes educator and co-host of Eating Well with Kim on News 12’s Midday programThursday,Feb.19•6–7:30p.m.North Augusta Community Center495 Brookside Ave., North AugustaFree. Dinner will be served, and reservations are required. register online at www.universityhealth.org/calen-dar or call 706/828-2502 or toll free 866/591-2502.

UNIvErsIty HospItAl’s HEArt AttACK & stroKE sUrvIvor dINNErGuest Speaker: Zonya Foco, America’s Nutrition LeaderThursday,Feb.26•6p.m.Augusta Marriott Hotel and SuitesTwo 10th St., AugustaFor anyone who has survived a heart attack or stroke and one guest.Reservations are required.

register online at www.universityhealth.org/calen-dar or call 706/828-2502 or toll free 866/591-2502.

Events

University Hospital’sHeart Month Events

Heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death in the United States. Fortunately, lifestyle changes and early detection can reduce your risk, and a University Heart Health Fair is the perfect place to begin. We’ll provide the educa-tion, encouragement and support to help you embark on a healthier lifestyle – and all of it is absolutely free.

Free activities include:• Bloodsugartesting,bloodpressurescreening

and total cholesterol testing• Healthyheartinformation• One-on-oneheartcounseling• Specialgiftsanddoorprizes

when and where:10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Saturday,Feb.7 Dillard’s Augusta Mall

• Saturday,Feb.21 Dillard’s Aiken Mall

• Saturday,Feb.28 Columbia County Library 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans

UNIvErsIty’sHEArt MoNtH HEAltH FAIrs