Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • March 11, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 21 SPONSORED CONTENT Continued > Collaboration of Care At the Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute at Saint Francis, collaboration has proven to be a key to great success. For example, the institute's Transcather Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Program brings together a team of experts in order to exchange ideas, discuss individual cases, and develop personalized approaches and techniques that will best meet the patient's needs. This patient- centered, collaborative effort has allowed physicians to drastically improve treatment for a challenging subset of patients who typically have some kind of significant aortic valve blockage, but are often not ideal candidates for a full surgical procedure. Prior to the introduction of the TAVR Program, these patients would have had highly limited options such as either major open heart surgery or palliative care. Now, the team of TAVR specialists at Saint Francis are one of very few in the region who offer this alternative road to better heart health and are ultimately creating a new path to a longer life for patients who may not have otherwise had such options in the past. "We are looking at the big picture, utilizing our physicians along with our incredibly skilled nurses and technicians in multiple specialty areas to closely analyze each patient's case," said Dr. Anita Kelsey, director of the Women's Heart Program, Saint Francis Hospital. "If a patient has other medical issues, such as cancers or kidney disease, we take into account the person as a whole allowing it to inform how we make the right decision for the patient at the right time." Wrap-around Care The focus on the patient as the individual is also the driving force of the highly specialized team that dedicates their skills to the heart failure unit at Saint Francis. This unit, the first fully dedicated heart failure unit in the state, serves the spectrum of heart failure patients, from mild cases to the most severe. "Heart failure is a complex diagnosis making it both challenging and gratifying to treat," explained Dr. Sabeena Arora, director of the heart failure program at Saint Francis. "It is an honor to develop relationships with each of my patients and their families, many of whom are in the midst of the most trying time of their lives. Whether their journey involves a heart transplant or end of life care, it is a privilege to take care of each and every one." The Heart Failure Outpatient Intervention Program is a valuable opportunity for a heart failure patient to reduce their need for re-hospitalization. Through a dedicated team of heart failure trained nurses and nurse practitioners, a recently diagnosed heart failure patient is provided with the tools they need to thrive outside the hospital walls and in their often preferred home setting. Similarly, the Oncology Heart Failure Program was recently developed from an increasing need as more is discovered about the link to cancer medications and heart failure. Through the program cancer patients are accessed for their risk of heart failure prior to and after their cancer treatment. This multi-disciplinary approach allows physicians to better identify vulnerable patients who may be at higher risk for developing cardiac dysfunctions due to these medications or cancer treatments. Experience Is Everything Along with having one of the largest open heart surgery programs in the state, Saint Francis prides itself has having one of the fastest "door-to-balloon" times for urgent heart attack care in Connecticut. "Our 'door-to-balloon' time is simply how fast we can provide a patient the appropriate care when they are having a heart attack," explained Dr. Aseem Vashist, assistant director of cardiac catheter laboratories, Saint Francis Hospital. "The balloon, as we call it, is the device we use to open the valve in the heart and ultimately stop the heart attack. The faster we can restore the flow of blood to the heart, the more favorable the prognosis and outcome for the patient." The ability to minimize the time a heart attack is occurring has lessened the number of patients through the hospital's doors who will progress to heart failure, Dr. Vashist went on to say. He added that by shaving off those valuable seconds fewer medications are likely needed moving forward, which will directly impact a patient's longevity of life and ultimately reduce mortality rates. www.HartfordBusiness.com March 11, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 25 Dr. Anita Kelsey, director of the Women's Heart Program, and members of the Transcather Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Program team of experts discuss optimal treatment plans ahead of an upcoming procedure. " " "We are looking at the big picture," said Dr. Anita Kelsey. "If a patient has other medical issues, such as cancers or kidney disease, we take into account the person as a whole allowing it to inform how we make the right decision for the patient at the right time."

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