heartcarecenters

Premier Cardiac Surgery Center Achieves Accreditation

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:21:11 GMT

Merrionette Park, IL – March 17, 2023 – Premier Cardiac Surgery Center has been accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation distinguishes this Cardiac Surgery Center from many other outpatient facilities through its adherence to rigorous standards of care and safety.

Status as an accredited organization means Premier Cardiac Surgery Center has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care set by AAAHC. More than 6,600 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are currently accredited by AAAHC.

1095 Strong is a transformational movement and call-to action spearheaded by the AAAHC to equip ambulatory leaders with the best of what they need to operationalize quality practices. The three-year, or 1,095-day, period between accreditations is a critical time when ambulatory health organizations, with help from proven experts, can develop the kind of everyday habits that enable leaders in the industry to provide the utmost in quality care to their patients. Organizations, such as Premier Cardiac Surgery Center, that earn AAAHC Accreditation embody the 1095 Strong, quality every day philosophy, an ongoing commitment to high-quality care and patient safety.

While the onsite survey is an important component of the process, ongoing compliance and continuous improvement are part of the accreditation maintenance mindset that a facility should integrate into its daily activities long after the survey has been completed. The intent of accreditation is for organizations to adopt policies and procedures that fuel ongoing QI and self-evaluation every day.

Ambulatory health care organizations seeking AAAHC Accreditation undergo an extensive self-assessment and onsite survey by AAAHC expert surveyors – physicians, nurses, and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory care. The survey is peer-based and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.

Premier Cardiac Surgery Center opened in 2020 and has quickly become the choice for patients throughout the Chicagoland region who are in need of Cardiac care. This re-accreditation confirms that Premier Cardiac Surgery Center is the best option for patients. We specialize in treatments for patients that have Heart Rhythm abnormalities. Premier Cardiac Surgery Center works closely with your Cardiac Electrophysiologist to implement the treatment plan that has been specifically designed for needs.

About Premier Cardiac Surgery Center

Premier Cardiac Surgery Center is committed to serving our patients by providing a superior standard of cardiovascular care. We achieve excellence by utilizing state-of-the-art technology, and we follow the latest medical research, to provide care in a compassionate and cost-effective manner.

The Cardiologists of Heart Care Centers of Illinois are available to help coordinate your care at Premier Cardiac Surgery Center. Please call 1-888-642-4224 to schedule an appointment.

About AAAHC

Founded in 1979, AAAHC is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation, with more than 6,700 organizations accredited. We accredit a wide range of outpatient settings, including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery facilities, endoscopy centers, student health centers, medical and dental group practices, community health centers, employer-based health clinics, retail clinics, and Indian/Tribal health centers, among others.

AAAHC advocates for the provision of high-quality health care through the development and adoption of nationally recognized standards. We provide a valuable survey experience founded on a peer-based, educational approach to onsite review. The AAAHC Certificate of Accreditation, along with specialized programs including Advanced Orthopaedic Certification and Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification, demonstrates an organization’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality services to its patients—every day of the 1,095-day accreditation cycle. AAAHC Accreditation and Certification Programs are recognized by third-party payors, medical professional associations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies, and the public. For more information on AAAHC, please visit www.aaahc.org .

Dr. Greg Macaluso plays crucial role in helping patients with Heart Failure through use of new technology

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 21:03:03 GMT

Credit - NBC5 Chicago - Lauren Petty - First Aired March 23, 2023

It’s been part of Bill Keiss daily routine for nearly a year.

“I get up in the morning and I take all my vitals,” Keiss, 71, said.

Suffering from congestive heart failure, Keiss is able to monitor his pulmonary artery pressure daily, right in the home office of his Mount Greenwood home by using the Cordella HF Sensor System from Naperville-based Endotronix.

“I haven't been in the hospital, you know, since it's since it’s been implanted,” Keiss said.

The implant is a small pressure sensor that is surgically placed in a patient’s pulmonary artery.

“We can detect very early rises in that pressure, which we usually average over, you know, a three to five day period, and if they continue to rise, we can act on it before patients have symptoms or even before they get sick,” said Dr Greg Macaluso, a heart failure transplant cardiologist with Heart Care Centers of Illinois.

While pressure monitoring isn’t new, Dr. Macaluso and his partners at Heart Care Centers of Illinois are working with Endotronix to conduct clinical trials for this new sensor, part of the Cordella HF Sensor System.

This is a new, newer device that allows us to have just kind of the newer, better, faster technology,” Macaluso said.

With this system, patients can take their readings sitting upright. It also collects other metrics too, including blood pressure, oxygen saturation and weight with a Bluetooth scale. All the results then appear on a small tablet, alerting patients, including Keiss, to any abormal readings or trends.

“I know when I don't feel good or my weight goes up, I need to take an extra half a water pill like they told me,” Keiss said. “It gives me total control. There's no question about it.”

By the end of this month, cardiologists nationwide will have implanted 450 Cordella sensors. The next step is for Endotronix to submit the data for FDA approval, which a company spokesperson says they hope to have in 12 to 18 months.

“Looking at two year outcomes, people are actually living longer with this treatment. So we're really excited about that, that new data,” Macaluso said. “We're really glad that it's a local company, too, that we can help, you know, showcase and help, also, to just make patients better in our community.”

Keiss says his pressure readings have improved since he started the daily monitoring. The retired father and grandfather called the technology life-changing.

“It’s not like it's cured me. It’s just giving me control. And that's, that's big,” Keiss said.

To see a link to the article and video, click HERE .

HCCI Cardiologists Take Part in First TAVR Procedure at Silver Cross Hospital

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 18:15:42 GMT

From Silver Cross Hospital Website -- September 08, 2021 --

For most of his life, Bob Guler said things were pretty uneventful healthwise – until he hit 65.

“Then, everything started going downhill,” said the retired Frankfort accountant somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

An irregular heartbeat led to an ablation and, ultimately, a pacemaker/defibrillator. Oh, and arthritis bad enough he had to have both hips replaced.

Guler was able to go to the gym and ride the exercise bike and pedal the elliptical, but that ended during COVID-19 restrictions last year. Toward the end of the year, he started feeling listless and noticed he was having more trouble when climbing stairs.

His primary care physician, Corinne Nawrocki, D.O., who is on staff at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, and Heart Care Centers of Illinois Cardiologist, Joseph Stella, D.O., noticed as well. On an echocardiogram done earlier this year, Dr. Stella discovered Guler had severe aortic stenosis and referred him to the Multi-Disciplinary Heart Valve Team at Silver Cross.

“Severe aortic stenosis is a life-threatening condition and he needed prompt evaluation,” said Dr. Stella , chief of cardiology at Silver Cross.

After further testing, the Silver Cross Heart Valve Team told Guler he was a candidate for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), an alternative to open heart surgery.

“They go in through the groin instead of opening up your heart,” Guler said. “That sounded pretty good.”

Interventional Cardiologist Ravi Ramana, D.O., medical director of Silver Cross’ structural heart program, said TAVR is done by inserting a catheter about the size of a pen through an artery in the leg and up into the heart.

“A new tissue heart valve is then implanted inside the narrowed valve, resulting in a normal functioning valve,” said Dr. Ramana , who has performed over 500 TAVR procedures in the past nine years at a suburban Chicago hospital.

According to team Interventional Cardiologist Francisco Yun, M.D., “This improves the patient’s symptoms and takes the excess strain and stress off the heart muscle. TAVR avoids the need for opening the patient’s chest and putting them on a heart-lung machine.”

But the procedure with Guler would be special: the first performed in Silver Cross’ new Cardiac Hybrid Room, part of the $22 million Cardiac Surgery Facility that opened at the end of March. The procedure team was led by Drs. Ramana , Yun , Phil Alexander and David Garcia .

Guler said he heard about the possibility of being the first TAVR patient at Silver Cross during his pre-surgical testing.

When he was wheeled into the operating room on April 12, Guler recalled, “There were a lot of people around; in the operating room and behind the glass. I guess everyone wanted to be part of it.”

“There were Silver Cross staff members who had never seen a TAVR procedure performed but had put in a tremendous effort over the last year,” said the team’s cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Alexander .

“It was an exciting day for the Silver Cross team who really did an amazing job to have those two hours of the first TAVR procedure at Silver Cross go as smoothly as they did,” added Dr. Ramana . “This process only can start with astute physicians like Dr. Nawrocki and Dr. Stella. The key is for patients and doctors to keep an eye out for and identify heart valve disease and appropriately refer the patients for testing and possible curative therapy. And it is immensely important to our Heart Team that we provide cutting-edge technology to our community.”

A benefit of TAVR compared to open heart surgery is a typically quicker recovery period compared to those who have an open-heart procedure. Several hours after surgery, Guler was sitting up having some dinner. A few hours later, he walked with help to the bathroom and then hit the hallways for a jaunt with assistance.

He was discharged home the next day to recuperate, and now is waiting for tests results to show he’s ready for cardiac rehab three times a week.

Still, Guler knows he has a way to go.

“ Dr. Ramana said I’ll feel better by Memorial Day, even better by the Fourth of July and great by Labor Day.”

Guler said he would definitely recommend TAVR to others who qualify for the procedure. They’ll get great care at Silver Cross , he said, but he knows being the first TAVR patient at the hospital got him some extras.

“They gave me a balloon, some candy and a card signed by everyone involved in the surgery,” he said. “That was nice.”

HCCI Cardiologists Play Vital Role in Saving Woman's Life

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:14:58 GMT

Missouri Woman Survives the Odds from Near-Fatal Heart AttackThanks to Experienced Care at Silver Cross

From Silver Cross Hospital, February 03, 2022 --

Brad and Luanne Haggard had planned a long weekend last spring, when they drove from their home in St. Joseph, MO, to visit his brother, Doug and family in New Lenox.

The long weekend turned into weeks as Luanne, who suffered an unexpected and severe heart attack, received lifesaving care at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

“For a while, I didn’t think I would be bringing her home alive,” Brad said of his wife of 33 years. “It was pretty scary.”

By all rights, Luanne Haggard was very lucky to be alive, said Dr. Joseph Stella , a cardiologist at Heart Care Centers of Illinois, who specializes in interventional cardiology and cardiology at Silver Cross.

Only a few hours earlier, Luanne had been talking to her sister-in-law, Laura, in her New Lenox home when she suddenly became unresponsive. Brad, who was returning from a trip to Chicago in a separate car, heard the frightening news and drove straight to Silver Cross.

Luanne had suffered an episode of sudden cardiac death while visiting her family. Sudden cardiac death is caused by loss of heart function.

Administering CPR

“Thank the Lord, Laura recognized Luanne had stopped breathing,” Brad explained. “My Dad, Darrell, and Laura got Luanne on the floor, and Laura at once started administering CPR while Hanna, our niece, called 911. A responding New Lenox Police Officer heard the call on the radio and came over to do CPR until the paramedics arrived and used the defibrillator.

“It’s only five or so minutes from my brother’s house to Silver Cross, but they said Luanne’s heart stopped a second time on the way there, and a third time in the cardiac catheterization lab.”

Dr. Stella was called in after Luanne had lost her blood pressure. She was placed on the maximum medication dosages to maintain her circulation, Dr. Stella said.

Undergoing an Angioplasty

As she was taken to the cardiac catheterization lab, Luanne still had no blood pressure. Dr. Stella performed an angioplasty and placed a stent to re-open blood flow in her left anterior descending artery, also known as the “widow maker.” He then inserted a balloon pump through her leg to help support her blood pressure and help her heart heal.

Luanne was placed on a ventilator, and her body temperature was cooled to 90 degrees for several days to help minimize damage to her brain.

Brad praised the hospital for its excellent care, singling out Dr. Stella, Dr. Hong Jun Yun , also an interventional cardiologist on staff at Silver Cross, and the nurses in the hospital’s specially designated Cardiovascular Unit.

Removing the Ventilator

After several days, Dr. Stella said, they began backing off the medication to see how Luanne would do on her own. Since she had made marked improvement, they were able to take her off the ventilator. After nine days in an induced coma to preserve brain function, Luanne woke up.

“And she showed no cognitive damage,” Dr. Stella said. “It was amazing.”

Luanne, who “graduated” from her cardiovascular rehabilitation back home in Missouri, said she remembers nothing.

“I just remember waking up in the hospital. They told me what happened, and I said, ‘Oh, okay’,” she explains.

At 56, Luanne admits to high levels of work stress and a family history of heart disease and early deaths due to heart attacks.

Dr. Stella said in Luanne’s case, a small piece of plaque lining her “widow-maker” artery broke off, causing an immediate blockage of blood flow to the heart.

Ironically, he added, there is more danger of that happening to a person when there is only a 30 to 40 percent blockage of the artery, rather than 90 percent.

“When the blockage is at 90 percent, it is usually calcified and more stable,” he said. “But at 30 to 40 percent, it’s unstable and easier for the plaque to rupture.”

Heart Scans Save Lives

Dr. Stella strongly recommends those with family histories of heart problems get a heart screening, such as Silver Cross Hospital’s $49 Heart Scan , sooner than later. If they find some plaque, he said, a cardiologist can work with the patient to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, and follow-up with regular check-ups.

Luanne and Brad were impressed that Dr. Stella insisted on calling her cardiologist back home in Missouri to discuss her case while they were in the office for a visit.

Dr. Stella said he wanted to make sure the doctor knew how serious Luanne’s health crisis was and discuss follow-up.

“And when she left, she was a happy, healthy lady,” Dr. Stella added. “It was a blessing.”

Today, Luanne has a new, less-stressful job, is expecting her first grandchild, enjoys a deeper faith and feels blessed to be alive.

“Brad and I take walks; we eat heart healthy. We are just so grateful for all they did for us at Silver Cross. God placed all the right people at the right time. It was a miracle.”

HCCI Physicians Implant New Device to Manage CHF

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 02:47:37 GMT

This week Heart Care Centers of Illinois physicians and nurses implanted a new, state of the art device for the management of congestive heart failure. The dime-sized device is actually a small pressure sensor and is part of the Cardiomems heart failure management system. This device is changing the way doctors and nurses manage congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is a common condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. This leads to fluid accumulation, shortness of breath and frequent admissions to the hospital. The first signs of fluid accumulation occur when the organ most closely attached to the heart, the lungs, shows signs of increased pressure. The Cardiomems device is implanted into one of the small blood vessels in the lung. Once in place the device will continuously monitor pressures and alert physicians electronically to rising pressures. This early rise in pressure is the first detectable sign of fluid accumulation. When alerted, providers can treat patients before fluid overload and congestion becomes so significant that breathing becomes difficult or admission to the hospital is required. This device has been shown to reduce the rate of readmission to the hospital and keep patients feeling well for longer periods of time.

If you or your loved one suffers from congestive heart failure please discuss this new therapy with your physician to best determine if this treatment might be acceptable. Heart Care Centers of Illinois physicians are excited and privileged to offer this new therapy to our patients.

HCCI Physicians Treat AAA Patients with New Graft

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 02:47:36 GMT

Heart Care Centers of Illinois Physicians are now able to treat difficult Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) patients with a new Fenestrated Stent Graft.

Physicians Dr. Robert Iaffaldano, Dr. James Sur, and Dr. Robert Gasior recently participated in the first Fenestrated Graft procedure at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island.

Heart Care Centers of Illinois Physicians are now able to treat difficult Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) patients with a new Fenestrated Stent Graft.

Physicians Dr. Robert Iaffaldano, Dr. James Sur, and Dr. Robert Gasior recently participated in the first Fenestrated Graft procedure at MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island.

HCCI Physicians Perform New Procedure for Totally Blocked Coronary Arteries

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 02:47:34 GMT

May 8, 2014 -- Recently, Dr. George Aziz and Dr. James Sur, Interventional Cardiologists with Heart Care Centers of Illinois, began performing procedures to treat Chronic Total Occlusions (CTO) of the coronary arteries of the Heart. Previously, a CTO, which is a total blockage of a coronary artery, was most commonly treated either with medical therapy alone or by Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, commonly known as open heart surgery.

With the recent advances in the field of interventional cardiology, now arteries which are totally blocked can possibly be treated successfully with a least invasive procedure during a cardiac catheterization.

Compared to traditional Open Heart Surgery, this new procedure poses fewer risks and allows for a much shorter recovery period, in most cases.

Dr. Aziz is one of only a few cardiologists performing this procedure at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and Dr. Sur is the only physician currently performing the same procedure at Palos Community Hospital. Both Dr. Aziz and Dr. Sur agree that this latest breakthrough in medicine is one that will likely transform healthcare for many years to come.

If you have been told one of your heart arteries is completely blocked and can't be fixed with a stent or you've been told that your only option is Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, commonly known as Open Heart Surgery, contact our office to see if you might be a good candidate for the CTO Procedure.

Dr. Ramana Participates in Ground Breaking TAVR Procedure

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 02:47:33 GMT

September 10, 2012 -- On Wednesday, September 5th, 2012, Dr. Ravi Ramana, Interventional Cardiologist with Heart Care Centers of Illinois, performed the first non-surgical replacement of an aortic valve using the Edward's SAPIEN Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement technology at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Dr. Ramana essentially replaced a patient's aortic valve using a small incision in the leg rather than opening the chest and putting the patient on the heart-lung machine as done in conventional open heart surgery.

Patients suffering from Aortic Stenosis, a progressive, age related disease caused by calcium deposits on the aortic valve, and who may not be healthy enough for open heart surgery may now have an alternative with the U.S. FDA-Approved Edward's SAPIEN Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the narrowing of the aortic valve. As the heart works harder to pump enough blood through the smaller valve opening, the heart weakens which leads to problems such as fainting, chest pain, heart failure, and eventually, death. Over one million people in the U.S. suffer from AS and often these patients have debilitating symptoms that can restrict normal activities such as walking or climbing stairs. These patients benefit from surgery to replace the valve; however, many patients are not treated because they are too high risk or deemed inoperable for surgery. Without an aortic valve replacement, there is no effective treatment and patients eventually succumb to the disease.

Dr. Ron Stella's Healthbeat Segment on ABC7 News

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 02:47:32 GMT

August 23, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A little-known, dangerous heart condition tends to strike young, fit women. Most people have never heard of it, and many doctors may not even know to look for it.

Meghan Scheiber knows firsthand that what doesn't kill you can make you stronger.

Just two years ago, she was blown away when at the age of 33 she suffered two heart attacks just days apart. She is now pregnant with her second child. It's a pregnancy considered high risk because Scheiber has a relatively little understood and rare condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection or SCAD.

"We can actually see a tear on the inside of the artery that's what a dissection is," said Dr. Ron Stella.

It was during an emergency angiogram days after her first heart attack that suburban heart specialist Dr. Ron Stella actually saw one of the arteries surrounding Scheiber's heart begin to tear.

"It was kinda unusual to especially see one spontaneous dissection but to see two in the same patient at the same time," said Dr. Stella.

When it happens blood flow to the heart can be blocked causing blood clots, heart attacks and possible death. Patients such as Scheiber may end up having to get stents. It's more likely to strike young healthy women with no warning. Now in the first study of its kind researchers at Mayo Clinic are uncovering clues.

"We now suspect that SCAD occurs much more often than doctors realize that is it underdiagnosed and missed frequently," said Dr. Sharonne Hayes.

They are also learning victims are relatively young in their early 40s on average. It can also occur in men especially during extreme exercise.

In women, it's most common in the three months after having a baby. And there appears to be a link between SCAD and a rare condition called fibromuscular dysplasia.

And here's another twist. This research may never have happened if it wasn't for SCAD patients reaching out to others on the Internet and then convincing Dr. Hayes to do the research.

Scheiber is doing well and is now working to raise awareness.

"It was a major shock that my life was changing, and it's a new reality for me, it's a new life," said Scheiber.

SCAD patients and mayo researchers are now working together to continue using social media to recruit others and raise research funds.

See the Video from the ABC7 Website: Click Here