SHARING GRATITUDE
I have seen things at the Have a Heart Clinic that I have only read about in Braunwald ’ s Heart Diseases textbook . We have had a Wolff Parkinson White ( WPW ) patient with atrial fibrillation and a heart rate of 280 . That patient was cardioverted in the ER and left against medical advice three times , because he could not afford the care , before finally finding his way to our clinic . He had a WPW ablation and was cured from his near fatal arrythmia . Another young patient was told in his home country that he had a murmur and would be ok . He worked two jobs , but had no health insurance . He has been severely dyspneic for years . He had a peculiar systolic murmur unlike anything I had heard . Echocardiography showed severe supra-valvular aortic stenosis . We got him operated and repaired and he feels great . Those are just a couple of examples of the types of patients we care for .
One unique aspect of the Have a Heart Clinic is its role in medical education . Medical students from the University of Louisville , ranging from first to fourth years , actively participate in clinics . Their unbridled enthusiasm meets seasoned physicians , providing them with invaluable hands-on experience in measuring blood pressures , performing ECGs and refining history and physical examination skills , often learning and doing things far ahead of their peers . In short , it is a great experience for them .
Lastly , the Have a Heart Clinic extends its impact beyond the clinic walls . Monthly community events at health fairs , churches and businesses offer cardiac screenings , CPR training and education on issues often underrecognized in our target patient population . The clinic ’ s commitment to improving cardiac public health in Kentuckiana resonates through these initiatives . close to practicing ideal medicine that I get to experience and it is extremely fulfilling . The emphasis on patient care without administrative burdens like prior authorizations and electronic medical record order entries allows me to focus solely on providing good , personalized medical care . I just see the patients , take care of them and do my note . It is great .
The patients are often undocumented and all patients are from medically underserved populations . We usually have an on-site Spanish medical interpreter , who greatly improves communication as well as the satisfaction of our patients . Their stories of their interactions with the American health care system are often hard to believe , sometimes harrowing and at times embarrassing . Many of these patients have been left behind by our health care system . The average age of the patients are about 20-30 years younger compared to my regular private practice cardiac clinic , because once patients reach 65 years of age , they can obtain health insurance through Medicare .
I joined the board of directors of Have a Heart Clinic last year . This allowed me to see how the clinic runs financially . This clinic and board are staffed by an outstanding group of volunteers that have allowed it to prosper . We have received numerous philanthropic donations and grants which are vital : as we all know , modern cardiac care can get expensive quickly .
The Have a Heart Clinic is a great place to “ work .” The patients are extremely grateful for the care that they receive . If I am honest , I work there to help these people , but at the end of the clinic , I am the one who feels better .
For more information about the Have a Heart Clinic , visit www . haveaheartclinic . org
Dr . Dillon has been a practicing interventional cardiologist in Louisville since 2000 .
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