The American College of Cardiology recognizes exceptional care at cardiology hospitals with its HeartCare Center National Distinction of Excellence award. The award recognizes forward-thinking heart hospitals with goals to advance the cause of sustainable quality improvement. Specifically, the 54,000-member college requires HeartCare Centers to demonstrate their “commitment to consistent, high-quality cardiovascular care through comprehensive process…
In Black patients and other people of color, subclinical or borderline hypertension even in young patients warrants medical therapy as early as possible, according to Kelly C. McCants, M.D., executive medical director of the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program. The conventional therapy of diet, weight loss and exercise won’t…
Compared with usual care, implantable cardiac monitors (ICM) detected significantly more atrial fibrillation (AF) events in stroke patients who likely would not have been monitored long term for AF otherwise, according to a study published recently in JAMA. The trial, Stroke of Known Cause and Underlying Atrial Fibrillation, STROKE-AF trial for short, looked at patients…
afdfd The notion that heart disease is a man’s disease can be misleading. Women are at greater risk for heart disease than men, yet their symptoms more often are overlooked by physicians — and women themselves are twice as likely to write off symptoms of myocardial infarction as stress, anxiety or panic attack. Physicians need…
Visiting Louisville on a business trip, Rob Priest thought he might have come down with a terrible case of food poisoning. The pain was so bad that he called 911 from his hotel. When Rob arrived by ambulance at Norton Audubon Hospital, he learned the truth was far worse than a tainted meal. Rob had…
When someone 35 or younger complains of symptoms concerning for heart disease, such as palpitations, shortness of breath or chest pains, we see them at the new Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Young Adult Cardiology Clinic, located on the campus of Norton Brownsboro Hospital. More and more young people come to us anxious about their…
An update from Kelly C. McCants, M.D., medical director of the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program and executive director of the Institute for Healthy Equity, a Part of Norton Healthcare This has been a momentous year for Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery Program. We…
Using scheduled, intentional touch points for follow-up care, Norton Heart & Vascular Institute is aiming to drive down the readmission rate for heart failure patients and those who’ve had open heart surgery. Mindful that heart failure readmissions typically happen in the first two weeks after discharge, all three touch points take place in that time…
For patients with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) not caused by a heart valve issue, with at least moderate risk of stroke and issues taking long-term blood thinners, the Watchman device offers an alternative. The left atrial appendage (LAA) closure device significantly lowers stroke risk and can reduce or eliminate the need for long-term anticoagulation. Patients with…
If someone is having chest pain, it’s time to get to the best hospital for heart attack treatment. But aren’t all hospitals equipped to treat a heart attack? Yes, and getting treatment right away is the most important thing, so call 911. Some hospitals have better outcomes than others and are able to reach those…
According to the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), 200,000 adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) every year. It is the 10th-leading cause of death for American men over the age of 55, and a ruptured AAA is the 15th-leading cause of death in the U.S. Symptoms Abdominal aortic aneurysm often…
The patient A woman presented to Norton Audubon Hospital with shortness of breath and dizziness and was noted to be in new-onset atrial fibrillation (A-fib). She underwent immediate cardioversion but had recurrent A-fib and then was placed on flecainide with a repeat successful cardioversion. Her echocardiogram showed normal left ventricular function. The providers Kent E….