News
& Events - Archive
Playing it Cool with TZD's in Heart
Failure
TZD's, including
Rosiglitazone (Avandia) and Pioglitazone (Actos), are newer
antihyperglycemic agents that are indicated to decrease insulin
resistance with possible preservation of Beta cell function in Type
2 Diabetes Mellitus. (Posted 12/29/03)
New
Radiofrequency Procedure Signals a Change in the Treatment of Atrial
Fibrillation
Genesis cardiothoracic
surgeon, Gerald Early, M.D., Early Heart Care, became the first
Quad-City physician to perform a procedure that uses bipolar
radiofrequency energy to treat abnormal heart rhythms.
Compared to the traditional surgical procedure for correcting atrial
fibrillation, this technique has proved to be not only easier to
perform but easier on the patient as well. (Posted 12/22/03)
Test
Your Cholesterol
A cholesterol test is a
simple way to check for heart disease. Reduced-cost
comprehensive blood panel tests for cholesterol and lipids and 12
other chemical tests will be available at various sites throughout
the Genesis Health System during the months of January &
February for $20. Click on the above link for details.
(Posted 12/3/03)
Genesis
Heart Catheterization Lab Ranks 21st in Nation
Genesis Medical Center's heart catheterization lab is ranked
as the 21st largest interventional heart program in the U.S.,
according to Data Advantage Corporation of Louisville,
Kentucky. That's up two spots from the 23rd place rating
Genesis received in the previous year. (Posted 11/20/03)
Welcome
Dr. Rafat Padaria
Genesis Heart Institute welcomes its newest member, Rafat
Padaria, M.D. Dr. Padaria recently joined Cardiovascular
Medicine, P.C. as a staff cardiologist. (Posted 12/8/03)
Genesis
Participates in Cholesterol Drug Trial
A new drug combination
is being tested by Genesis Heart Institute physicians on patients
who are undergoing treatment to lower their cholesterol.
"The exciting part is that the drug combination may not only
slow down the disease process, but actually reduce hardening of the
arteries," says interventional cardiologist Eric Dippel, M.D.,
Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C., and principal investigator.
(Posted 12/8/03)
Something to be Thankful
for . . .
Genesis Medical Center
Cath Lab reached a new milestone Thanksgiving week with the help of
two cardiologists from Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C. Jon
Robken, M.D., performed the 50,000th procedure in the Genesis Cath
Lab. Philip Habak, M.D. performed the 50,001st
procedure. More than 8,000 procedures are performed in the
Cath Lab each year. (Posted 12/5/03)
Change
in Tilt Table Testing Improves Efficiency
As of October 1, 2003,
tilt table testing is now being done in the Outpatient Cardiac
Diagnostics Department at the Genesis Heart Institute.
Previously, this test was performed in the Cardiac Cath Lab at
Genesis Medical Center. (Posted 12/5/03)
Midwest
Cardiovascular Research Foundation (MCRF) Launches New Web site
Dr. Nicolas Shammas, President & Research Director of the
MCRF announced the launching of their new Web site. Genesis
Heart Institute is an affiliate of the
Midwest Cardiovascular Research Foundation which is a consortium of
affiliate research sites capable of developing and conducting large
clinical trials; and performing regional educational activities for
health care personnel and the general public, educating persons on
the recognition, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
To learn more, visit www.mcrfmd.com.
(Posted 12/5/03)
Dr.
Michael Giudici Receives Conservation Medal
Michael Giudici, M.D., Cardiovascular
Medicine, P.C., is the recipient of the National Society Daughters
of the American Revolution's Conservation Medal and
Certificate. (Posted 11/20/03)
Sealing Holes in the Heart
A new procedure introduced at Genesis Medical Center this week
promises to send young patients with holes in their hearts home
after only a few hours of observation. A condition that once
required open-heart surgery now is performed without general
anesthesia, lessening the discomfort and traditional risks
associated with treatment. (Posted 11/7/03)
Great
River Medical Center and Physicians Join Genesis Heart Institute
Great River Medical
Center and Cardiologists Dr. Anthony Lazar and Dr. Mark Woodard, all
located in West Burlington, Iowa, are the newest members of the
Genesis Heart Institute. (Posted 10/29/03)
Cutting-Edge Medical Training Comes to
Genesis
Genesis Medical Center will host a visit on Wednesday, October 29 by
a a mobile, state-of-the-art simulated cardiac catheterization lab
in which physicians can get hands-on experience with new cardiac
devices and procedures provided by Boston Scientific
Corporation. (Posted 10/29/03)
Local Cardiologist, Dr. Peter J. Sharis,
Publishes Book
Local cardiologist,
Peter J. Sharis, M.D., Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C., has
co-authored with Christopher P. Cannon, M.D., a new book entitled
"Evidence Based Cardiology". The second edition was
published this year and will soon be released in PDA format, which
will allow for updates every six months. (Posted
10/17/03)
Dr. Nicolas W. Shammas and Dr. Jon Robken Publish Treatment on the
World Wide Web
Nicolas W. Shammas, M.S., M.D., and co-author Jon Robken, M.D., FACC, have recently published on the Web at www.tctmd.com
"Unprotected Left Main Stenting in a Patient with ESRD Using a
CYPHER Stent & Bivalirudin". To read the detailed
discussion about the rationale for this treatment which was unique
to the presenting patient, go to: www.tctmd.com/case-studies/one.html?study_id=4103. (Posted
10/17/03)
First
Annual Fetal Echo Conference
Advances in the fields of fetal diagnosis and therapy have led
to an increased interest in developing prenatal therapeutic
interventions for congenital heart defects. In response,
Genesis Heart Institute will present the first annual Fetal Echo
Conference on Wednesday, October 29, 2003, at the Adler Education
Center. (Posted 10/10/03)
Genesis Heart Failure Program Provides
New Order Sets
The Genesis Heart Failure Program is providing three new order sets
for inpatient and outpatient care. The Heart Failure Pathway
(inpatient admission) Orders have been updated to add prompts for
new tests and evidence based practice considerations. New
orders have also been developed for initiation of outpatient cardiac
infusion therapy and outpatient IV Lasix therapy. Click
here to view and print the new order sets.
(Posted 10/10/03)
Caution in Prescribing or Continuing Newer Antihyperglycemic
Agents to Heart Failure Patients
TZD's, including Rosiglitazone (Avandia) and Pioglitazone (Actos),
are newer antihyperglycemic agents that are indicated to decrease
insulin resistance with possible preservation of Beta cell function
in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The potential benefits on
elements of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease are
appealing to practitioners. However, these medications have
serious implications for heart failure patients.
(Posted
10/10/03)
Helping
All Hearts in the Quad Cities
Hearts
of the Quad Cities is one group taking steps to raise
awareness of heart disease in diverse populations in the Quad
Cities. Hearts of the Quad Cities offers free
screenings and information to help prevent, detect, and treat heart
disease. (Posted 9/12/03)
Speaking Out in Washington
Electrophysiologist Michael C. Giudici, M.D., Cardiovascular
Medicine, P.C., was tapped as one of five specialists to represent NASPE
Heart Rhythm Society for a Capitol Hill advocacy session.
Dr. Giudici will visit with lawmakers in Washington, DC, on
September 17 & 18, representing the International Society for
Cardiac Arrhythmia and speaking out on health care issues, Medicare
issues, and research funding. Please feel free to contact Dr.
Giudici at his office at (563) 324-2992 or via e-mail at giudici@cvmedpc.com.
Dr. Giudici is the Chairman of the Genesis Heart Institute Research
& Education Committee, as well as a member of the Institute's
Board of Directors. (Posted 9/4/03)
September is National
Cholesterol Education Month
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the U.S. Department
of Health & Human Services is once again making available
educational materials to help motivate people to know their
cholesterol numbers, learn what their numbers mean, and learn about
ways to lower their cholesterol and their risk of heart disease.
Click here to learn more
about the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National
Cholesterol Education Program.
(Posted 9/4/03)
Genesis Heart Specialists
Published in National Cardiology Publication
Heart specialists practicing at Genesis Medical Center are the
focus of national attention in the September issue of Cath Lab
Digest. One article focuses on the day-to-day life of a
high-profile research cardiac catheterization lab, while the other
focuses on a research study. (Posted 9/4/03)
Successful
Cardiology at the Bix Held July 25, 2003
The
13th Annual Cardiology at the Bix took place on Friday,
July 25, with 220 physicians, nurses, and ancillary personnel from
several specialties in attendance.
This cardiovascular conference featured a panel of nationally
acclaimed physicians, presented by Genesis Heart Institute.
Click to view "New
Options In Lipid Lowering Therapy" and "Major
Options in High Risk Hypertensive Patients Randomized to Angiotensin-Converting
Enzyme Inhibitor or Calcium Channel Blocker vs. Diuretic"
presentations given by Dan Fintel, M.D. – “Early and Aggressive
Treatment in the Coronary Heart Disease Patient.
Click to view “TEE
for Internists – Indicators & Utility”
the presentation by Sandra Reynertson, M.D.
(Posted 8/15/03)
An
Alternative to Surgery - Genesis Introduces Carotid Stenting for
High-Risk Patients
Thousands of patients with blocked carotid arteries in the neck are
at high risk for surgical treatment. Now, Genesis Medical
Center is the first hospital in the Quad Cities to offer them an
alternative - a minimally-invasive procedure that opens the artery,
keeps it open with a metal mesh tube or stent, and uses a tiny
filter to trap any dislodged plaque that could cause a stroke.
(Posted 8/13/03)
Genesis Heart Institute
Building Receives "Excellence Award"
The Genesis Heart Institute building was one of five new commercial
construction projects to receive an "Excellence Award"
from the local chapter of Women in Construction. Awards are
presented biannually by National
Association of Women in Construction, Quad Cities Chapter 50.
Some 58 projects
undertaken between January 2001 and December 2002 were
recognized. (Posted 8/13/03)
Researchers
Receive National Recognition - Continuing to Smoke with Hardening of
Renal Arteries Increases Chances for Re-blockage
Local researchers, Nicolas Shammas, M.D., and Matt Kapalis,
research student, recently received national attention as their work
won honors for best poster presentation at the 45th Annual
World Congress sponsored by the International College of Angiology,
June 30, 2003. The research points to the importance of
conservative, long-term follow up, for heart patients treated for
blockages in blood vessels supplying the kidneys kept open with
metal mesh tubes or stents. (Posted 8/13/03)
Improving ICU Blood
Sugar Control in the Open Heart Population
In 1999, a study began
at Genesis Medical Center of glucose control perioperatively in open
heart patients. Glucose levels at that time averaged 200
mg/dl. Since that time, new protocols have been developed
resulting in bringing the mean glucose levels to 128.9 mg/dl.
(Posted 6/13/03)
Cardiology
at the Bix
The 13th Annual Cardiology at the Bix takes place on Friday,
July 25, from 8-4:00 p.m. at the Radisson Quad City Plaza in
Davenport. This cardiovascular conference features a panel of
nationally-acclaimed physicians, presented by Genesis Heart
Institute. (Posted 5/28/03)
Med-Force Celebrates 1,000th
Successful Flight
Med-Force
recently celebrated its 1,000th successful flight in 30
months. This milestone was reached six months ahead of initial
projections which means Med-Force is exceeding their projected daily
flight volumes. (Posted 5/28/03)
New Generation Defibrillator Promises
Less Discomfort for Patients
Genesis Medical Center is one of a select group of United States
hospitals that participated in a compelling new clinical trial
showing that today's implantable defibrillators can be programmed to
deliver safe, painless therapy, with life saving shocks delivered
only when absolutely
necessary. (Posted
5/28/03)
Genesis Heart Institute
Research Receives Nod from Industry Expert
A published paper based on Genesis Heart Institute research
challenging decades of use of heparin during peripheral procedures,
has garnered the attention of scientists at an
internationally-renown heart
program. (Posted 5/20/03)
Cleveland
Clinic Expert Visits with Genesis Heart Institute Specialists
One of the leading authorities on coronary vascular health and new
treatments for heart and stroke patients will be visiting the Quad
Cities on June 6, 2003. (Posted 5/12/03)
Local Cardiologist to
Present Papers
"Clinical and Angiographic Predictors of Restenosis
Following Renal Artery Stenting" and "Clinical and
Angiographic Determinants of Acute Stent Recoil in the Renal
Artery" will be presented by local cardiologist, Nicolas
Shammas, M.D., Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C. in June 2003.
(Posted 5/5/03)
Drug-Coated
Stents Arrive in the Quad Cities
Genesis Medical Center is one of the first in the area to
receive new device which integrates the latest in technology and
pharmacology. (Posted 4/24/03)
Illini
Hospital and Two Rivers YMCA Workout Together
by Lisa McCluskey, Illini Hospital
Do you have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood
pressure? If so, you may know that you are at increased risk
for heart disease. However, what many do not realize is that
they may take part in and benefit from cardiac rehabilitation.
(Posted 4/8/03)
New
Test to Assist in the Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) testing will be introduced
at Genesis Medical Center during the month of April as a laboratory
tool to assist in the diagnosis of congestive heart
failure. (Posted 4/3/02)
Genesis
Heart Institute Specialist Publishes 100th Paper
Local cardiologist,
Michael C. Giudici, M.D., recently celebrated a career highlight of
having his 100th paper published. (Posted 3/20/03)
Genesis Seeking
New Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Patients for New Clinical
Trial
Due to a strong initial
response, Genesis Medical Center is extending its search for
patients to participate in an ongoing clinical trial. This
study follows the progress of E2F Decoy, a therapy that pretreats
vein grafts in order to prevent bypass graft failure following
coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. (Posted 3/20/03)
Davenport Woman
First in Nation to Receive New Heart Device
by Cherie Black, Quad
City Times
Marie German, a 64-year-old woman from Davenport, Iowa, became the
first person in the United States to receive a new device designed
to help reduce heart failure. Click here to read
the Quad City Times story.
(Posted 3/17/03)
Genesis
Seeking Patients for Study of New Congestive Heart Failure Therapy
Genesis Medical Center is currently taking part in the
national study of MCC-135, a therapeutic agent which may be useful
in the treatment of heart failure. (Posted 3/7/03)
Welcome
Dr. Pasupathy
Padmanabhan
Galesburg
Cottage Hospital, a member of the Genesis Heart Institute, is
pleased to welcome Dr. Pasupathy Padmanabhan, cardiologist, to
Galesburg.
Dr. Padmanabhan will join the staff of Cottage Medical Group
in March.
(Posted 3/5/03)
Pacing Therapy Holds Hope for
Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
Patients with
congestive heart failure (CHF) have relatively few therapeutic
options available. Medical therapy with ACE inhibitors, A2
blockers, diuretics and digoxin can improve the patients' clinical
status for a time, but the disease usually progresses. The new
alpha-beta blockers, such as carvedilol, are proving beneficial in
some patients as adjunctive therapy. Transplantation is
limited by the availability of donors and many patients are not
transplant candidates due to age or concurrent illnesses. Left
ventricular assist devices, cardiomyoplasty, and left ventricular
reduction surgery may carry too
much morbidity to be widely used. Pacing therapy gives
physicians treating this difficult population an attractive addition
to the therapeutic "tool box". (Posted 3/5/03)
Exercise,
Adenosine, and Dobutamine Stress Testing - Why, When and How?
Cardiac stress
testing is an important means to assess chest pain.
Unfortunately, not all patients can or should exercise on a
treadmill. There are several limiting physical factors that we
must take into account. (Posted 3/5/03)
Illini
Hospital Upgrades Cardiac Cath Lab
In the past year, Illini
has made great strides in cardiovascular care by upgrading its $1.2
million Cardiac Cath Lab to enable emergency angioplasty procedures.
(Posted 2/7/03)
Impedance Testing: Saves
Money and Lessens Risk
Hospital and outpatient settings are beginning to utilize
non-invasive cardiac output monitoring via impedance cardiography.
This was developed largely in response to economic considerations,
and the increasing risk of invasive catheters. Impedance
cardiography employs a non-invasive method of obtaining hemodynamic
data that provides measures of cardiac flow, rather than pressure
measurements. (Posted 2/7/03)
Combating
Heart Failure
The impact of heart failure in staggering. According to
the American Heart Association, nearly five million Americans have
this condition; with 500,000 new cases emerging each year. It
is the key cause for hospitalization in persons over the age of 65
with one million hospitalizations costing us $24.3 billion
annually. (Posted 2/4/03)
Left
Thoracotomy Off-Pump Coronary Bypass Operation
Heart Institute surgeons at Genesis Medical Center are offering
an advanced technique in cardiac surgery that allows them to help
those who have had prior heart surgery. East Moline resident,
Merwin Baker, 76, was the first in the Quad Cities to receive this
procedure, a left thoracotomy off-pump coronary bypass
operation. (Posted 1/8/03)
New
Defibrillator May Help Patients
Heart Institute researchers at Genesis Medical Center may
help patients to adequately control the abnormally fast heartbeats
coming from the bottom chamber of the heart through the use of a new
defibrillator. (Posted 1/8/03)
Inflammation is
a Predictor of Adverse Cardiovascular Events
Recently, several markers of inflammation have been used to
assess cardiovascular risk. One of those markers,
high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) has been shown in
prospective studies to be associated with increased risk of
cardiovascular events in apparently healthy individuals or in
patients with angina pectoris and prior myocardial infarction.
(Posted 1/8/03)
Affairs
of the Heart - Saturday, February 1, 2003
Join us at the Genesis Heart Institute from 7:30-10:30 a.m. for
everything you'd ever want to know about your heart. Special
exhibits, physician presentations, and continental breakfasts while
they last are all free. (Posted 1/8/03)
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