The need for cardiac care is great: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports one in every five deaths are caused by heart disease.
The tools available to providers are impressive, with constant advancements in medications and medical devices.
But sometimes in that mix, the needs of the patient can get lost.
The Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth is working to change that dynamic. A team of 70 providers—36 physicians and 40 Advanced Practice Providers—are focused on delivering comprehensive cardiac care to patients from Northern Kentucky, Southeastern Indiana, and beyond.
The St. Elizabeth program is under the leadership of Executive Medical Director Dr. DP Suresh and is certified by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association as a Comprehensive Cardiac Center.
Accessing care, faster
Often, patients who report heart concerns, like chest pain or shortness of breath, might have to navigate their way to multiple providers and specialists to get the treatment they need.
At St. Elizabeth, there’s a direct line from Primary Care to heart and vascular specialists.
“Our approach is designed to reduce the burden on patients,” says Dr. Suresh. “If you need to see a cardiologist and then have bypass surgery, that care is managed for you. Our providers are constantly collaborating. That means we can make decisions faster to best meet the needs of our patients. And it’s what sets St. Elizabeth apart.”
Innovative research and surgical approaches
The team at St. Elizabeth integrates the latest technology to benefit patients. Surgeons utilize more efficient endoscope techniques for many procedures, meaning that they often don’t have to open a patient’s chest. This in turn can reduce recovery time.
St. Elizabeth is also contributing to research in the space, participating in a variety of drug and device trials. These trials include phase I through phase III studies, aiming to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and optimal dosing of new treatments for chronic diseases and rare conditions.
“Through our advanced surgical techniques and participation in the latest research, we can offer the best and most current care to our patients,” says Dr. Suresh. “Our providers are often the first in our region to perform an advanced procedure, meaning that our patients get advanced treatments close to home.”
Reducing the burden of disease
Efforts to improve cardiovascular health at St. Elizabeth are ambitious, Dr. Suresh notes. As a system, St. Elizabeth has set a goal of decreasing heart-related morbidity and mortality in the region by 25 percent by 2025.
The burden of heart disease is greater in some communities than others, so to improve heart health throughout the region, St. Elizabeth must address inequities in treatment among African American and Latino populations. The team is currently evaluating data that will help physicians better support these communities, Dr. Suresh says.
Bringing the best to our region
In addition to his leadership role at the institute, Dr. Suresh is the President of the American Heart Association in the Midwest and co-chairman for their international committee on systems of care. This allows him to learn best practices from hospital systems around the U.S. and the globe. “My colleagues in China, India, Mexico, and Japan are all working to improve their systems of care,” he says. “I take that learning and share it back to our team at St. Elizabeth.”
Take Time for Your Heart
During February’s Heart Month, Dr. Suresh and his team make an extra effort to raise awareness of heart disease and its impact. One tool is “Take Time for Your Heart” a free, online program. Dr. Suresh and several members of the St. Elizabeth team share tips for living a longer, healthier life. Click the link above to learn more.
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