Cardiovascular, Pediatric Services

Norton Children’s Hospital and UofL name new chief of pediatric cardiac surgery

Bahaaldin Alsoufi, M.D., has joined the University of Louisville Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and Norton Children’s Heart Institute at Norton Children’s Hospital as the new chief of the division of pediatric cardiac surgery. He will practice with UofL Physicians – Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Alsoufi comes to Louisville from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. “In Dr….

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Cardiovascular

Free consultations for heart patients

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Resource Center offers free heart-healthy lifestyle consultations with a registered nurse to heart patients and their families. During the one-on-one consultation, a cardiac nurse will check the patient’s body mass index, blood pressure and waist circumference and will discuss nutrition, exercise, risk factors and signs and symptoms that might suggest…

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Cardiovascular

Managing the A-fib patient – new guidelines released

The latest update of the atrial fibrillation (A-fib) guidelines from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society incorporated data regarding the novel anticoagulants (NOACs), updated the preferred risk assessment tool to the CHA2DS2-VASc score, and updated the data and recommendation level for A-fib ablation. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE UPDATED GUIDELINES…

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Adult Services, Obstetrics

Nitrous oxide an option for labor pain and anxiety

Nitrous oxide is now available to women in labor. “The gas is safe to use and relatively simple to use, offering pain relief and decreased anxiety, among other benefits,” said C. Reed Nett, M.D., OB/GYN with Advocates for Women’s Health, a part of Norton Women’s Care. “The potential side effects of nitrous oxide can include dizziness, nausea…

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Cardiovascular, System

New tower opens at Norton Audubon Hospital

Part of the five-year construction and renovation project at Norton Audubon Hospital has reached a significant milestone with the completion of a new tower. It opened in April and features 74 additional private patient rooms for intensive care, open heart and progressive cardiac care. Norton Healthcare is investing $125 million in the project, which focuses…

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Adult Services, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics, Pediatric Services

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists available for high-risk pregnancies

A “high-risk pregnancy” can mean many things. However, pregnant women who need extra care to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery should be referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine provides services in Louisville, Paducah and Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Madison, Indiana. The practice offers: Diagnosis and counseling for fetal abnormalities and…

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Oncology/Hematology

Introducing the Norton Center for Abdominal and Digestive Surgery

The Norton Center for Abdominal and Digestive Surgery is a partnership between Norton Hospital and the University of Louisville. The complexity of abdominal and digestive diseases requires a multidisciplinary team approach that includes advanced surgical, interventional, medical and endoscopic therapies. Led by a team of specialized physicians, the center offers innovative and specialized treatment methods…

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Adult Services, News, Spine, System

Norton Healthcare purchases the Mazor X robotic surgical system

Norton Healthcare now has the Mazor X robotic surgical system — technology that can help reduce pain and make recovery time shorter following spine surgery. The purchase of the system was made possible with funding from Norton Healthcare and the Children’s Hospital Foundation. The move comes after a successful trial with the robotic technology, led by Jeffrey…

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News, Pediatric Services

Norton Children’s Hospital names chief administrative officer

Norton Healthcare has named Emmett Ramser chief administrative officer of Norton Children’s Hospital. In his role, Ramser will oversee all facets of the hospital’s operations and work diligently to ensure that children throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana have access to specialty care. He also will oversee operations of Norton Children’s Medical Center in northeastern Jefferson…

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Infectious Disease, System

Be informed to prevent sepsis

Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection, typically caused by germs such as staphylococcus aureus (staph), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and some types of Streptococcus – in the lungs (pneumonia), kidney (urinary tract infection), skin or gut. Sepsis is life threatening and catching it in its late stages could cause tissue damage, organ…

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Behavioral and Mental Health, Pediatric Services

HEADSSS acronym to include social media in AAP proposal

An editorial in the latest American Academy of Pediatrics journal, Pediatrics, recommends adding an additional “S” to the HEADSSS acronym to become HEADS4. The revised acronym would equate to: home life, education, activities, drugs, sexual activity, safety, suicide and/or depression, and social media. Highlights from the editorial: Because aberrant social media use may mirror addiction,…

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Cardiovascular

Pulmonary embolism response team (PERT) launches

Norton Healthcare has established uniform protocols for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). The move is intended to improve patient outcomes for the life-threatening condition that claims tens of thousands of lives each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Our goal was to create a systemwide approach with the same agreed-upon…

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