Shore Memorial Provides Easy Access to Comprehensive Cardiac Care
By Rebecca Douglas
Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in the nation, and South Jersey is no exception. Diagnosis, treatment, education and lifestyle changes are at the heart of Shore Memorial’s CardioVascular Institute. From routine physicals for beginner joggers to rehab that will make you strong enough to frolic in the ocean with your grandkids again, Shore Memorial Hospital has just what you need.
“Our team approach to coordinated care makes the whole process much easier,” notes Valerie DeJoseph, MS, RDMS, RVT, administrative director of Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Services. “You don’t have to go to one place for initial testing, then drive across town for other tests or follow-ups. Everything you need to take care of your heart is in one building. “In addition, all our labs are accredited by professional outside organizations which recognize global standards of excellence in technology, and we hire registered or registry eligible sonographers, technologists and technicians. It’s all about providing the best patient care possible.”
Early Detection
Convincing Jersey Shore residents to know and take seriously the signs of a heart attack is a professional mission for Christina Kozmor, RN, M.Ed., director of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and community outreach.“ If you feel discomfort or tightness in your chest and you’re nauseous, sweaty or lightheaded, chew (don’t swallow) an aspirin and call 911 immediately,” Kozmor urges. “You may not feel chest pain—especially if you’re diabetic or female.”
Kozmor also stresses the importance of calling for an ambulance instead of having a friend or relative drive you to the hospital. “The paramedics can administer oxygen and begin assessing you right away,” she explains. “Th e sooner we begin working, the better.” At the hospital, simple blood tests can detect specific chemicals released by tissue degenerating from lack of oxygen in the heart muscle (see below).
A painless, three-minute electrocardiogram can confirm or rule out rhythm irregularities. Beta blockers and thrombolytic “clot-buster” medications can also be administered. Cardiac catheterization is another common element of treatment. “It’s a low-risk, minimally invasive procedure that is the most definitive way to tell what’s going on in the heart,” explains Steven Kornberg, MD, cardiology division director. During catheterization, a small tube is inserted through the groin or arm to measure oxygen levels and blood pressure within the heart and/or assess its ability to pump. Dye is oft en injected so narrowing and blockages in the arteries are visible during coronary angiography or arteriography.
Last year, more than 300 cardiac catheterizations and more than 400 other cardiovascular procedures were performed at Shore Memorial. The Interventional Radiology Suite at Shore’s CardioVascular Institute offers a full spectrum of services, including balloon angioplasty, chemo and fibroid embolization, vascular stent placement and many others.
Powerful Partners
In most cases, heart attack patients are stabilized and monitored for several days at Shore Memorial. Often stress tests are used to determine why a cardiac event occurred. The hospital also offers nuclear medicine and advanced gamma camera testing to further diagnose and manage cardiac stress. If Shore Memorial’s emergency department physicians determine emergency angioplasty or cardiovascular surgery is needed, one of the nation’s leading cardiac programs is just a helicopter ride away at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia.
“Saving heart muscle is crucial,” explains David Angelastro, MD, medical director of Shore Memorial’s emergency department. “With just one phone call, the helicopter prepares for takeoff and the emergency team at Penn Presbyterian assembles.” During the 25-minute ride, a flight nurse and paramedic continue emergency room care and prepare the patient for surgery. “Once the diagnosis is made, the clock starts ticking,” says John Buckwalter, RN, director of the Penn Heart Rescue Program. “Data have shown that patients who have a coronary artery opened within 90 minutes of arrival have a better survival rate.”
After surgery and treatment at Penn Presbyterian, patients return to Shore Memorial and their local physicians for continued care close to home.
On the Mend
Patients who suffer a heart attack or related conditions often feel they have a new lease on life. Shore Memorial’s Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program helps them make the most of it. “Supervised exercise is an important element, but there’s so much more,” notes Kozmor. “We educate patients about medications and help them modify their risk factors such as weight and smoking. “Studies are clear about how much rehab helps. We’re hoping it gets added to standard treatment protocols.” ■
What’s That You Say?
Cardiac care can have a language all its own. Here’s a quick overview of common terms:
CREATINE KINASE, OR CK: the most common blood test used to detect damage caused by heart attack. Creatine kinase is an enzyme that increases about six hours after the start of a heart attack and peaks in about 18 hours.
CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS: a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood.
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: medical term for heart attack.
TROPONINS: proteins in the heart muscle that usually increase within four to six hours of a heart attack. Blood tests revealing elevated troponins can indicate minor heart muscle injury not flagged by CK tests.
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