From Danville Regional Health
System
Better Health Magazine Archives
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From Danville Regional Health
System
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... and Changing Them
Did you know...
The incidence of heart disease in Danville and the surrounding counties is two times the state
average!
"From taking care of heart attack patients to helping them change their
lifestyles through rehabilitation, our staff can help people get the cardiac care they need," said Dennis Adams, Director of Cardiopulmonary/Radiology Services at Danville Regional Medical Center.
The following five departments make up Cardiac Services and work together to provide patients with a seamless delivery of care:
 Chest Pain Center Because time is critical when treating heart attack patients, the Chest Pain Center, located in the Emergency Department, improves care by providing more efficient treatment of chest pain. "Our nurses have training in advanced cardiac life support," said Malinda Silverman, Clinical Director of the Emergency Department. "Having all of our chest pain patients in one specialized area makes it easier to stabilize and evaluate them quickly. The quicker Patients can get to the Chest Pain Center, the more we can do to prevent damage to their heart," said Silverman.
Critical Care Unit/Telemetry Unit Cardiac patients in serious condition undergo intensive monitoring in the Critical Care Unit. "They often experience high anxiety and denial about their heart attack," said Deb Henderson, Director of Patient Services for the Critical Care Unit/Telemetry Unit. "But our nurses are highly trained in advanced life support and monitor the patient closely. They are very supportive and comforting." Patients in more stable condition are monitored in the Telemetry Unit. Because these patients are hooked up to fewer monitoring devices and IVs, they can begine moving around on their own. From the Telemetry Unit, patients may undergo further testing to determine the exact nature of their heart problem.
The Heart Station The Heart Station provides non-invasive diagnostic testing. Several types of stress testing, holter monitoring and echocardiography are used to help determine the nature of the heart problem. "Most of the testing produces very little discomfort for the patient," said Bernie White, Chief Echocardiographer at Danville Regional Medical Center. The Heart Station staff works like a detective to understand the source of the patient's problem. "Diagnostic testing is like putting together the pieces of a puzzle," said White. "If there are still questions, we need to ivestigate further." For some patients, a more advanced diagnostic procedure, cardiac catheterization, is necessary.
Cardiac Catherization Lab Diagnostic angiograms are performed at the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. Dye injected into the patient's arteries enables the cardiologist to examine the condition of the blood vessels by viewing x-ray images on a monitor. "Many of our patients are apprehensive," said Debbie Robinson, Manager of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. "But we help them feel at ease by creating a friendly atmosphere and educating patients about the procedure." If the cardiologist determines that the patient needs surgery, Danville Regional Medical Center collaborates with physicians at Duke University Medical Center. "Our cardiologists have worked closely with cardiologists at Duke for years," said Robinson. "We work together to make sure the the whole process goes smoothly for patients, and we're prepared to help our patients recover when they return to us from surgery."
Cardiac Rehab The Cardiac Rehab program is the first step towards 
a full recovery. Staff members help patients learn to lead heart-healthy life-styles through a comprehensive exercise, nutrition and educational program. "The program starts at a low-impact, one-on-one level because many patients are afraid they can't do it," said Jamye Wright, Cardiopulmonary Health Center Coordinator. "By the time they have completed the program, most patients don't want to leave. They are so proud of their achievements and even develop friendships with other patients in the program." That sense of community is what makes Danville Regional Medical Center an important resource for people living in this region. By providing and coordinating all the services cardiac patients need, the Cardiac Sevices do more than save patients' lives. They change them- for the better!
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That makes having quality cardiac services available nearby even more critical for people in this region. By providing a wide range of cardiac services, Danville Regional Medical Center gives patients who suffer from heart disease hope for a healthier future.