Heart Failure is a serious health condition affecting nearly 5 million Americans. The Congestive Heart Failure program at St. Francis Hospital offers comprehensive and personalized care designed to meet the needs of patients’ living with this condition. We provide state of the art disease management interventions to reduce the frequency and duration of hospital visits and offer a thorough approach to diagnosis of all stages of heart failure. Under the leadership of Justine Lachmann, M.D., the department’s chair and heart failure specialist, we give all-inclusive care to a high-risk population. Over the years, our program has been recognized for its high survival rates.
Our team includes a skilled and dedicated group of cardiologists, registered nurses, dieticians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physical therapists, social workers, psychologists and ancillary staff. We provide access to cutting-edge clinical trials and maintain direct communication and integration of management plans with our patients’ primary care providers.
Our patients can expect follow-up exams (office visits can last 2 to 3 hours), telephone monitoring, access to a cardiologist who is trained in the latest advances in the treatment of heart failure, including both medical and surgical interventions; participation in medication trials not yet available to the general public; and educational programs on medication, diet and exercise.
We pride ourselves on giving warm, personable, and compassionate care to our patients.
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Conditions Treated
- Congestive heart failure
- Cardiomyopathy
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Angina
- Advanced coronary artery disease
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Key Department Treatments
Intravenous Therapy
The heart failure department uses different medications to treat various signs and symptoms of the disease. The medications are given in an outpatient setting anywhere from one hour to four hours, to help patients feel better and to keep them out of the hospital.
External Enhanced Counterpulsation (EECP)
EECP therapy works by increasing blood and oxygen supply to the heart and decreasing the amount of work the heart has to do to pump blood to the rest of the body. It is not invasive, does not require a hospital stay, has no recovery period and allows you to return to your routine each day after receiving treatment.
Comprehensive Office Exam
Office visits include a thorough physical, extensive review of medical history, and an evaluation of medications and dietary needs. Referrals for outside tests for diagnosis are also given, in addition to rapid responses to blood tests and prompt follow-up phone calls.
Biventricular Pacemaker Evaluation and Optimization
Patient is screened for dysynchrony, or a loss of synchronized communication between the left and right aspects of the heart (a common complication of congestive heart failure). The department recommends treatment in an effort to improve heart function.
Inpatient Consultation
Newly diagnosed patients who need a specialty doctor can come in for a follow-up appointment after their hospital visit.
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Research & Clinical Trials
Heart Failure and A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise Training (HF-ACTION)
The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients with heart failure, who are given exercise training in addition to standard care, have a 20% lower rate of death and hospitalization over two years than those who do not exercise. The results of the trial will have a major impact on the health and quality of life of millions patients suffering from heart failure.
E-Valve Study
Research on non-surgical repairs of leaking mitral valve by cardiac catheterization.
Research on non-surgical repairs of leaking mitral valve by cardiac catheterization.
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