NEW: RI’s Kent Hospital Announces Advanced Heart Failure Program
Monday, July 29, 2013
A new Advanced Heart Failure Program at Kent Hospital will offer the most cutting-edge treatments for their patients.
“The addition of the advanced heart failure program at Kent is a tremendous benefit to our community and the patients we treat,” said Sandra Coletta, COO Care New England, president and CEO of Kent Hospital. “It is our goal with this program to offer the most cutting edge treatments for one of the most common medical conditions, which will allow our patients to live healthier, higher-quality lives.”
Heart failure is a common condition where the heart loses some of its pumping function. This can lead to a variety of medical issues including: shortness of breath, unintentional weight gain, weakness, cough and swelling in the abdomen, ankles or legs. Common causes of heart failure include severe coronary disease, high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, disease of the heart valves, heart rhythm problems, infections of the heart muscle, or genetic conditions that can run in families. Treatments must be individualized based on the underlying cause of heart muscle weakness and the needs of the patient.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Advanced Heart Failure Program at Kent Hospital will be directed by Garrick C. Stewart, MD, MPH, a member of the Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates at Kent Hospital. He will also co-direct the Care New England Heart Failure Management Program, a population health management program focused on reducing readmissions for heart failure. Dr. Stewart is a board certified advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist, as well as an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and associate physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Dr. Stewart is dedicated to the care of patients with advanced heart failure and to the care of patients after heart transplantation or mechanical circulatory support. His current research focuses on the appropriate use of devices in patients with heart failure, particularly on the timely deployment of ventricular assist devices. He is a member of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation and the Heart Failure Society of America.
“We are extremely excited to add the advanced heart failure program to the cardiology services at Kent Hospital and also to welcome Dr. Garrick Stewart to Kent Hospital,” said Chester Hedgepeth, MD, PhD, executive chief of cardiology at Kent Hospital. “Dr. Stewart brings specialized experience to our team. We hope to apply this advanced care and clinical expertise to the increasing cases of chronic heart failure in our community. This ultimately supports our goal to keep specialized cardiac care in a local setting, close to home.”
Heart failure services to be provided include:
- Comprehensive heart failure evaluation
- Individualized medical therapies
- Multidisciplinary care
- Evidence based disease management program
- Education about dietary and lifestyle choices
- Access to clinical trials for heart failure
- Evaluation for advanced heart therapies, including mechanical heart pumps and heart transplantation
In January 2013, a major expansion of cardiology services at Kent Hospital was announced through an agreement with Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Boston.
Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates at Kent Hospital is structured to serve patients every step of the way from diagnosis to treatment including outpatient consultation, care in Kent’s congestive heart failure clinic, counseling for heart transplantation and an array of additional cardiac services. With specialists who represent a broad spectrum of cardiac services, the personalized approach to patient care will always be a priority from a clinical team of energetic, cutting-edge physicians who emphasize the latest in technology and treatment. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 401-681-4996, or log on to www.kentri.org/bwcardio.
Related Articles
- RI’s Go Red for Women Day: 7 Steps to a Healthier Heart
- Will Heart Disease Affect Your Baby If You’re Pregnant?
- Daylight Savings Time Linked to More Heart Attacks
- Don’t Let Winter Weather Give You a Heart Attack
- Providence: The Hub of Heart Attacks?
- RI Hospital + Miriam Combine for New Open-Heart Surgery Program
- RI’s Go Red Day 2013: 10 Ways Women Can Keep Their Hearts Healthy
