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HEALTHCARE

HEALTHCARE

Getting to the Heart of the Matter : Advances in Cardiac Care

By Diane Walsh Editor , COMMERCE

Candy hearts are overflowing on store shelves everywhere . These boxes of chocolate gooey delights are literally the sweetest way to celebrate a romantic ’ s favorite day . And while Valentine ’ s Day festivities would not be complete without red roses , Cupid ’ s arrows , and giving our hearts aways , it also a good time to think about heart health .

The American Heart Association joins February ’ s celebrations of Heart Month by emphasizing heart-healthy living and cardiac care . Great progress is being made . Since 1968 the rate of cardiovascular disease has dropped 71 percent , the heart association reports . At CIANJ we asked cardiac specialists to discuss the latest treatments and innovations they are using to provide excellent care for their patients across the state .
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Irfan M . Admani , MD , FACC Chief of Cardiology
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center is in the process of expanding our ambulatory cardiac care facilities . These services will be available to all regardless of insurance status and the goal is to offer these services every day at all our clinics .
In 2024 , we will be enhancing our cardiac diagnostic capabilities . One of these improvements will be adding a CT angiogram to our Non-invasive Cardiac Department which would diagnose coronary artery disease ( CAD ) early so appropriate care can be rendered more efficiently . Our Non-Invasive Lab is in the process of upgrading its ultrasonography and nuclear scan imaging .
Additionally , the Medical Center has been at the forefront of mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment . We have plans to expand our Cardiac Department to provide treatment and support for these patients .
The Cardiology Department is working closely with the Bariatric Center to screen patients for appropriate weight management strategies . We continue to improve management of chronic care conditions . Our clinicians are making tremendous progress in identifying patients at increased risk of CAD and other contributing risk factors early .
Our mission at Bergen New Bridge remains the same – to provide compassionate quality cardiac care to everyone that walks into our clinics or Emergency Department .
Jersey City Medical Center Kimberly Skelding , M . D . Division Chief for Cardiovascular Services Chief of Cardiology
At Jersey City Medical Center and throughout RWJBarnabas Health , our unwavering commitment to placing the patient at the heart of their healthcare journey is what sets our cardiac care apart . In our thorough approach , we delve into a patient ’ s daily life – discussing everything from their eating habits and activity level to their past and current medical issues to explore how it might play into their health concerns .
Whether it ’ s a valve problem , chest pain , or any other cardiovascular concern , our center is the only full-service heart hospital in Hudson County offering a wide array of care services . For valve issues , for example , we offer a range of treatments , including catheter-based valve replacement and interventions , open-heart surgery , or a more conservative approach tailored to the patient ’ s specific interest and needs . This thorough assessment ensures accurate diagnosis , offering peace of mind to patients and providing targeted treatments and interventions .
Our commitment also extends beyond medical interventions ; we aim to be a community-centric healthcare provider . We continue to expand our resources into the community , offering comprehensive cardiac care locally ,
ensuring that patients can receive world-class treatment near their home .
Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center Renato Apolito , M . D . Medical Director , Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Jersey Shore University Medical Center is a large 630-bed tertiary care hospital serving Monmouth and Ocean counties . It is the only hospital in these two counties providing advanced cardiac surgical , structural and valvular heart disease , and electrophysiological services while also providing coronary intervention / stenting programs performing with ever-increasing complexity in patients who are not candidates for open heart surgery . Our hospital provides the second most cardiac surgery , structural , and interventional cases in New Jersey and is growing . We have excellent patient outcomes for all of our cardiac services thanks to our well-trained staff , nurses , and physicians .
Additionally , our advanced heart failure program continues to grow , offering access to several clinical trials . For patients who fail medications and have advancing heart failure , we offer durable , surgically implanted mechanical heart support with the HeartMate 3 device ; that
Continued
Multi view of CTA Coronary artery 3D rendering image for detect coronary artery disease .
Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / mr . suphachai praserdumrongchai /
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