Show #420 Airing Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Fairview Hospital Heart Center is opening today, and although we might not be there for the ribbon cutting, we've snagged two VIP's who are ready to explain the cutting edge care the center offers. Jennifer Andrey director of cardiac program development at Fairview Hospital, and Victor Hall is vice-president of cardiac services for the Cleveland Clinic Health System's western region. Welcome.
Question:Today marks an important event: the opening of the Fairview Hospital Heart Center. Tell us about the new facility, Victor?
Answer:: Sure. We've had a large cardiac program at Fairview Hospital since the mid 80s, and as the program grew over the years, space issues and changes in technology have created the need for a new Heart Center while continuing to offer the best technology and environment as possible.
Short of a heart transplant, all cardiac procedures are available at the Heart Center, but we've also have made it much more patient-centric. Great care was taken in designing the Center to be patient and family friendly. Heart centers, by their nature, can be a scary place.
The new Center incorporates soft colors and lighting. Flat-screen TVs are available in patient rooms. The waiting room is earth-toned and has a fireplace. The Center is also easy to navigate.
Question:It sounds like you've created a heart center with heart. What's an ambient room?
Answer:: Yes. Our Ambient Room is the first in the U.S.-the only other one in the world is in Holland. It's a cardiac catheter lab that incorporates differing light and sounds to create a spa-like environment for the patient.
It's computer-driven. The patient is given a choice of what they enjoy the most: beaches, the forest, etc. Say the patient says they enjoy the beach. A button is pushed and the light changes to approximate the tropics. Sounds such as seagulls and waves will begin, etc.
Not only does the Ambient Room calm the patient, but also studies in Europe have shown that there is a decrease in needed anesthetic for those in an Ambient Room due to lower anxiety.
Also, the Heart Center will offer many expanded services. One way that cardiology nationwide is growing and changing is in the use of peripheral vascular disease imaging. At the Heart Center, we will be able to look not only at the cardiac vessels, but also at the carotid artery in the neck, the renal artery, arteries in the leg, etc. There will be cooperation and a joint effort between cardiologists and vascular surgeons, and this is unusual.
Question:Is Fairview Hospital new to heart care?
Answer:: No. In 1964, we opened the first four-bed coronary intensive care unit, which was the idea of Dr. Richard Watts. Dr. Watts was also forged innovative communication in the community by allowing paramedics to have contact with the coronary care unit while in route to the hospital so that appropriate treatment could begin as early as possible.
The first open heart surgery was performed at Fairview Hospital in 1985. Since then, stents and angioplasties have lessened the numbers of open-heart surgeries, thanks in part to awareness on smoking cessation and cholesterol control.
Question:Today is an open house where the community can check out the new heart center. What's going on, Jennifer?
Answer:: Today, from 12 to 4, the Heart Center will be open to the community. People will be able to walk through the catheterization labs, patient rooms, etc. Refreshments and heart-healthy information will be available.
There will be an area for kids' activities, and free health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar will be available.
We really hope people come and join us, as Fairview Hospital is a 499-bed community hospital, and we strive to provide service "in the backyard" for the west side, close to people's friends and families. We're a teaching hospital (surgery, medicine, family practice), deliver 4,000 babies each year, have the only pediatric emergency room on the west side, and are a Level 2 trauma center.
You too can check out the cutting edge technologies at the Fairview Hospital Heart Center, today from noon through four. Take advantage of free health screenings! To learn more, call the number that's next. My thanks to Jennifer Andrey and Victor Hall.
