Distinguishing normal aging from early dementia can be difficult, but there are clues that can help. Neurologist Gregory E. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., chief of adult neurology and director of the Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center, answers the most commonly asked questions. What are the differences between normal cognitive aging, mild cognitive impairment and dementia?According to…
When symptoms of heart failure begin progressing or patients start decompensating, there is a brief opportunity for referral to an advanced heart failure center. The American Heart Association calls this the “golden window.” Primary care providers and others should consider referring a patient to the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s Advanced Heart Failure & Recovery…
Newly diagnosed heart failure patients have a three-month window of care crucial to their likelihood of recovery. The difference can be returning to a normal life versus awaiting a heart transplant or mechanical circulatory support with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). In that three-month window, the heart can respond well to a neurohormonal blockade,…
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility, affecting from 8% to 20% of U.S. women of reproductive age, according to research. It is treatable but often difficult to diagnose, especially outside of the gynecologist or OB/GYN setting. Diagnosing and treating PCOS early can help control symptoms and prevent long-term issues from developing,…
The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) has accredited Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, increasing the likelihood that patients’ insurance will cover weight loss surgery. While many factors play into an insurer’s decision, having the procedure at an accredited program and facility is a common requirement. Refer a patient To refer a patient…
Clinical trials and studies, which are essential to the development of new drugs and treatments, need to be conducted under strict ethical, clinical and investigational structures. The most common are investigational trials with new medications or new devices. There are also studies involving outcome measurements and those looking at how people most effectively manage disease….
Lauren R. Albers, M.D., has joined Norton Heart & Vascular Institute to focus on women’s cardiology. Dr. Albers, who completed her fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the UofL School of Medicine, joins the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Women’s Heart Program. The program, formed in 1995, is dedicated to addressing the high risk of heart…
A new Structural Heart Program offers our patients a truly comprehensive approach, reducing the number of clinic visits and shortening the time from diagnosis to treatment. The Structural Heart Program is a combination of expertise from cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology and imaging cardiology. It includes four surgeons, three interventional cardiologists, three imaging cardiologists and two…
Norton Healthcare is offering a professional, structured observation program for flight nurses, paramedics, EMTs and first responders to enhance their knowledge of stroke and learn about state-of-the-art treatment and interventions. Recognizing the key role of EMTs and paramedics in stroke care is a priority because they are the first people who interact with the stroke…
Symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common than an actual clinical diagnoses. As a result, patients will tell me they have recurrent UTIs, but they are basing this on their symptoms rather than positive cultures. The clinical definition of recurrent UTI is more than three culture-positive infections within a year. UTIs are most…
The patient This mid-60s gentleman presented with significant pain and decreased mobility while hospitalized for another procedure. He is a former smoker and quit two years prior to our evaluation. We were asked to evaluate him for large midline incisional hernia. A preoperative CT scan shows a hernia measuring 14 centimeters by 22.5 centimeters with…
Ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (A-fib) has been shown to be superior to medical management for the maintenance of sinus rhythm. Now, newer ablation techniques are making the procedure safer, more efficient and effective. The STOP AF First and EARLY AF trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine in early 2021 showed cryoablation…