Firelands Heart Center Installs New Cath Labs
Firelands Regional Medical Center Heart Center continues to offer advances in local cardiac care with the installation of two new catheterization labs.
The Philips Azurion 7 cath lab system provides state-of-the-art imaging and software with better detection, less radiation exposure to the patients and cath lab team, and a more comfortable, efficient, and timely outcome for patients.
Cardiac catheterization is a standard procedure used to diagnose or treat various heart problems, including irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), chest pain (angina), or heart valve problems, among other conditions. It is also performed when placing stents to open blocked arteries. Cardiac catheterization is done by guiding a thin, flexible tube or catheter through a blood vessel to the heart. The procedure provides physicians with important information about the heart muscle, heart valves, and blood vessels in the heart.
Firelands cardiologists Hassan M. Ibrahim, MD, W. Patrick McGuinn, MD, Mourhaf Traboulssi, MD, W. Scott Sheldon, DO, and Steven M. Tann, MD, carry out diagnostic catheterizations and procedures, with Dr. Sheldon and Dr. Tann performing interventional procedures as well. Dr. Sheldon completed an advanced fellowship in interventional cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic and diagnoses and treats conditions and diseases of the heart and blood vessels using nonsurgical, catheter-based procedures and specialized imaging techniques.
“Firelands has had a long-term commitment to expanding the cardiology program in this region to meet the community's needs. The acquisition of the Philips Azurian cath lab equipment allows us to offer patients the most advanced technology in cardiac catheterization. Having two cath labs ensures that Firelands can provide 24/7 care for patients,” says Dr. Sheldon.
In addition to highly skilled physicians, the Firelands Cath Lab boasts a team of specially trained and dedicated support staff. A registered nurse and an x-ray technologist assist the cardiologist in the cath lab, while another registered nurse or x-ray technologist monitors the patient and records the procedure from the adjoining control room. Scheduled procedures are performed during the week, and a team is always on call for emergencies. “The people who work here are outstanding. We are a very cohesive team whose members are like family. We have a lot of respect for each other and confidence in the services we provide. The support of nursing in the ICU and other units and our relationship with the hospital's specialty staff, such as nephrologists, neurologists, and pulmonologists, is why the Firelands Heart Center is so well respected,” says Dr. Sheldon.
Firelands cardiologists, who began performing catheterizations at the hospital in 2000, treat people from Sandusky, Huron, Clyde, Port Clinton, Amherst, Norwalk, Bellevue, Greenwich, and other locations in the region. Recently a 61-year-old woman was rushed to Firelands for an emergency heart catheterization and probable intervention. “She was originally from Cuba and had recently moved from Florida to Port Clinton. She only spoke Spanish and understood very little English. Her family called 911 when she started experiencing chest pain, and EMS transported her to Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton. She had an EKG, which showed she was having a heart attack. Magruder referred her immediately to Firelands for a heart cath and, most likely, a stent procedure. There was a language barrier, causing the patient even more anxiety and confusion,” remembers Dulce “Candy” Alexander, a cath lab x-ray technologist.
Candy, who is of Mexican heritage and fluent in Spanish, realized the woman did not understand English and spoke to the woman in her native Spanish. “She instantly looked relieved. I told her my Spanish was a little rusty, but we would get through this together.” Dr. Sheldon determined the patient had a blockage in one of her cardiac arteries. He opened the blockage by inserting a stent into the artery through a catheter in her groin. Candy reassured her and acted as an interpreter while Dr. Sheldon performed the procedure.
Foundation for Firelands Helps Fund New Cath Lab
The Foundation for Firelands continues to support the Firelands Heart Center with a gift from an anonymous donor who will match every donation up to $500,000 to help fund the new cath labs.
“The Foundation for Firelands recognizes the valuable and life-changing procedures performed in the cath lab. Providing state-of-the-art equipment is essential to providing the best possible outcomes for our patients. We are so grateful to the anonymous donor who has contributed such a generous gift to help us fund such an important service to the community,” says Alice Springer, Director of the Foundation for Firelands.
The Foundation for Firelands previously provided the funds to renovate the Heart Center waiting room into two private spaces for heart patient families. The rooms feature an interactive, illustrative wallboard that physicians and staff can use to explain intricate procedures, diagnoses, and outcomes to families. In addition, there is access to cable television, electronic device charging stations, and a complimentary beverage station. The space combines functionality with comfort and privacy for families whose loved ones are undergoing heart procedures.
If you want to contribute to the heart cath lab renovation, please get in touch with Alice Springer at 419-557-7151.
Candy accompanied the patient to ICU, where all heart cath patients are observed for at least one night. “We usually ask the family not to visit until the patient is settled in, but because of the language issue, I let the family in right away. The woman’s daughter spoke English, and she could translate for the nurses and her mom.” When the woman’s case manager readied her for discharge, Candy again served as translator.
For Candy and the other cath lab team members, one of the most gratifying aspects of assisting Dr. Sheldon is watching how quickly the patients’ pain decreases. “Once the stent, or in some cases, stents, is inserted, the patients’ level of chest pain is reduced almost immediately. And that is so wonderful to see,” says Candy.
Heart Center Services
The Heart Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center offers a broad range of advanced cardiac testing and procedures. Our highly skilled cardiologists and healthcare professionals provide the most advanced technologies available for the prevention and treatment of heart disease. In addition, the Firelands Heart Center is accredited in heart failure and echocardiography by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission. It is an American Heart Association Mission Lifeline heart attack referral center and a certified chest pain center.
Firelands Heart Center provides the following cardiac testing and treatment services:
- Surgical procedures, including pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.
- Full-service cardiac catheterization lab with intervention
- Diagnostic testing, including EKG, cardiac stress testing, tilt table testing, echocardiography, Holter and event monitors, pacemaker/defibrillator implantation and management clinic, EEG, and EMG
- Treatment of heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, angina, heart attack, and more.
- Cholesterol Clinic
- Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
