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Cardiac surgery patient Robert Len and his wife, Fal

Excellence in Open Heart Surgery Innovations in Interventional Cardiology Leading-Edge Initiatives in Electrophysiology Comprehensive Care for Congestive Heart Failure Patients The Many Hands of a Caring Community

FALL 2013

The Heart & Vascular Institute Bringing Superb, Patient-Centered Cardiac Care to the Community

healthline 1 A Message from Our President and CEO Dear Friend, A year ago, Stamford Hospital became one out of only 18 acute care hospitals in the United States to earn the distinction of becoming a Planetree Designated® Patient-Centered Hospital for our excellent performance in personalizing, humanizing and demystifying the healthcare experience for patients and families.

At Stamford Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI), the Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care is deeply woven into the entire spectrum of services, from prevention and screening to the most innovative treatments in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. Our affiliation with NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System/Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons enables us to closely collaborate with world-renowned heart specialists and share in the development of the latest clinical protocols and technologies. The result is superb quality performance and exceptional outcomes that rival those of major academic research centers.

I’m proud to share with you this issue of Healthline that showcases the vibrancy, growth and continual commitment to high-quality cardiac care at the Heart & Vascular Institute and invite you to learn about our program highlights and accomplishments, including:

• A new state-of-the-art hybrid operating room that enables our multidisciplinary team of heart specialists to provide diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to a patient in the same operative setting

• 100% of exceptional door-to-balloon times, completing angioplasty procedures in 90 minutes or less for the past three years and achieving a better heart attack survival rate compared to other U.S. hospitals

• A new electrophysiology lab offering the latest biplane technology to enhance imagery and reduce radiation exposure

• The new Structural Heart Disease (SHD) Center and Valve Clinic, providing a comprehensive screening and evaluation program for patients who may be eligible for the most advanced techniques of minimally invasive mitral and aortic valve repair

• Receiving the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines® Heart Failure Bronze Quality Achievement Award

• The addition of Dr. Lori Mosca, a nationally recognized expert in preventive cardiology and women’s health, to the HVI team

On behalf of the staff and physicians at HVI, I welcome you to share our achievements as we move forward in providing exceptional care.

Brian G. Grissler President and CEO

2 StamfordHospital.org From the Director of HVI Contents

4 The New Hybrid OR 5 Open Heart Surgery Program Innovations in 6 Interventional Cardiology Comprehensive Care for the 7 Congestive Heart Failure Patient Peggy Martino, MSN, MBA, NEA-C Leading-Edge Initiatives in I am very proud to share with you this issue of Healthline that highlights Electrophysiology the Heart & Vascular Institute’s (HVI) accomplishments in delivering 8 genuine patient-centered care and exceptional outcomes. Introducing the New Structural I am particularly proud to be here at this time as we embark on building Heart Disease (SHD) Center and a new hospital that will blend advanced medical technology with our 9 Planetree model of patient-centered care, creating an environment in Valve Clinic which patients and their families will feel empowered to be partners in the planning of their care. Introducing Lori Mosca, Our highlights include: 10 MD, MPH, PhD Exceptional Quality Outcomes for the Cardiac Surgery, Interventional Cardiology and Congestive Heart Failure programs. Quality Performance at HVI Teamwork: We are distinguished for the high degree of collaboration The Many Hands of a between specialists and primary care physicians who meet regularly to discuss patient cases in order to determine the best approach to care. 12 Caring Community World-Class Cardiology Experts on staff, including Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Antonio Colombo, Electrophysiology Medical Mobile Wellness Center Brings Director Dr. Sandhya Dhruvakumar and renowned Preventive Cardiovascular Screenings to Cardiologist Dr. Lori Mosca. 14 the Community New Hospital Facility: A dedicated HVI wing in the new patient care tower will house all HVI services in one location to facilitate Dr. Thomas Nero and the Hands for continual communication among the specialties and enhance Life® Program convenience for patients and their families. I invite you to share in our many achievements, which are the result HVI News and Achievements of our talented team of physicians, nurses and staff who successfully 15 endeavor to provide exceptional care to our patients. Update on the Peggy Martino, MSN, MBA, NEA-C New Stamford Hospital Director, Heart & Vascular Institute and Integrative Medicine Service

healthline 3 The New Hybrid OR The Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI) is at the forefront of extremely versatile,” said Dr. Coady. “If a problem arises during a innovation in cardiac care with the introduction of its new minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon can seamlessly transition state-of-the-art hybrid operating room. Here, a multidisciplinary to an open procedure, which can be life-saving for a patient.” team of heart specialists — cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, Since the introduction of the hybrid OR, vascular surgeons at interventional cardiologists and radiologists — can provide Stamford Hospital are delivering a higher level of care to their diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to a patient in the same room. patients. “The hybrid OR provides leading-edge radiological “The new hybrid OR allows us to provide all of the treatments that imaging combined with the safety and resources of an operating fit a patient’s specific needs at the same time, thereby improving our theater, including access to other specialty physicians,” said efficiency and patient outcomes,” said Dr. Michael Coady, Chief of Dr. Timothy Manoni, Division Head of Vascular Surgery at Cardiac Surgery. Stamford Hospital. “It allows us to be very proactive in providing our patients with the safest state-of-the-art care.” Merging the best of cardiac surgery and advanced imaging technologies, the hybrid OR is designed to perform a range of services including open, minimally invasive, image-guided and catheter-based cardiovascular procedures. The room features leading-edge imaging technologies such as a new fluoroscopy machine that allows physicians to immediately evaluate X-ray pictures and make real time decisions to guide treatment, and the Siemens Artis zeego®, a robotic, high-resolution CT imaging system with 3D reconstruction that can synchronize with X-ray mapping technology to provide surgeons with dynamic, real time images.

The hybrid OR is the optimal setting for cardiac patients who require multiple procedures, such as the open surgical repair of an aortic valve performed by the cardiac surgeon, immediately followed by the stenting of a coronary artery by the interventional cardiologist. Eliminating the need to move a high-risk cardiac patient from room to room saves critical time. “The hybrid OR is

The New Hybrid OR

Timothy Manoni, MD Division Head of Vascular Surgery

The Hybrid OR Team 4 StamfordHospital.org Patient-Centered Open Heart Surgery

Open heart surgery can be a daunting prospect for patients and These achievements, on par with those of major university their families. The Heart & Vascular Institute’s (HVI) Cardiac hospitals, are a tribute to the Cardiac Surgery team’s talent, Surgery program provides the most advanced approaches cohesiveness and interdisciplinary approach. “I’m proud to be to cardiovascular surgery in an atmosphere of compassionate, working alongside such a strong and dedicated team of cardiac patient-centered care in which the individual patient’s needs, surgeons, anesthesiologists, full-time physician assistants and concerns and values are of paramount importance. nurses,” said Dr. Coady. “We work closely with the patient’s cardiologist to determine if the patient is a candidate for surgery and, “We are distinguished for our patient-centered approach to care,” if so, to develop a firm plan from the preoperative phase through the said Dr. Michael Coady, Chief of Cardiac Surgery. “Here, patients surgery, long before the patient enters the OR. Throughout the entire bond with their surgeon and surgery team, feel comfortable process, we place a high priority on forging close bonds with our throughout their entire experience, and know that the care they are patients and their families.” receiving is equivalent to that of a major academic medical center.” The Cardiac Surgery team has masterfully handled several The Cardiac Surgery program offers the full spectrum of complex, high-risk cardiovascular procedures. Most recently, the cardiovascular procedures, ranging from the straightforward team collaborated with Stamford Hospital’s Vascular Surgery team to the complex, including coronary artery bypass surgery, valve to treat a patient’s life-threatening aortic disease. The procedure, repair and replacement, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection a hybrid approach of open heart surgery and minimally invasive repair, resection of cardiac tumors, surgery to correct congenital thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (TEVAR), was defects and surgery to correct arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. performed in Stamford Hospital’s new, state-of-the-art hybrid Quality of care is carefully evaluated before, during and after operating room, which enabled both teams to provide life-saving every procedure. This fall, the team celebrated its 280th cardiac services to the patient in the same operative setting, thereby surgery case and has consistently achieved superb quality ensuring the best possible outcome. performance outcomes.

Michael A. Coady, MD, MPH Chief of Cardiac Surgery

healthline 5 Innovations in Interventional Cardiology

open-heart surgery but require angioplasty or stenting. The Impella enables the team to take care of the very sickest patients successfully. • The use of PressureWire® technology to measure fractional flow reserve (FFR), a way to determine which coronary artery blockages require stenting and which ones can be left alone, thereby helping patients avoid unnecessary procedures. • The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to rescue patients in cardiac arrest by providing them with continual support of their respiration and circulation. • The use of intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in blocked vessels to help guide successful stent placement.

This fall, HVI is proud to welcome world-renowned Interventional Cardiologist Antonio Colombo, MD, Chief Antonio Colombo, MD of Interventional Cardiology at San Raffaele Hospital and Interventional Cardiologist Columbus Hospital in Milan, Italy and a Visiting Professor of Medicine at Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. Dr. Colombo has made groundbreaking In a field of rapidly advancing techniques and technologies, the contributions in the fields of coronary stenting, peripheral Interventional Cardiology program at Stamford Hospital is one vascular interventions and structural heart disease treatment, step ahead of the curve in its approach to innovative cardiology including a sophisticated approach called TAVR (transcatheter care, offering the latest in leading-edge, non-invasive procedures aortic valve replacement). for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, including angioplasty, stenting and arrhythmia relief. Dr. Nicola Corvaja, Interventional Cardiologist at Stamford Hospital, was instrumental in introducing Dr. Colombo to “We’re never complacent in our endeavor to improve the quality HVI. The two colleagues first met at Lenox Hill Hospital, of our services,” said Dr. Edward Portnay, Interventional New York, where Dr. Corvaja was undertaking his fellowship Cardiologist at Stamford Hospital. “We’re constantly analyzing and Dr. Colombo was serving as an attending physician in our outcomes data to develop evidence-based strategies, and we’re Interventional Cardiology and a Consultant in the position of continuously adapting to emerging technologies and techniques. Director of Research Angioplasty. Subsequently, Dr. Corvaja There’s also an entire culture of ongoing education here, which came to Milan, Italy, to join Dr. Colombo’s practice as an all combines to create a successful program.” Associate Interventionist. Over several years the two specialists One point of pride is the Cardiology team’s performance. collaborated on several initiatives in interventional cardiology In nearly three years, the team completed 100% of its that served to strengthen their professional bond and their “door-to-balloon” (DTB) angioplasty procedures within 90 friendship. Both Dr. Corvaja and Dr. Colombo currently provide minutes or less, compared to the national benchmark of 95%. innovative interventional cardiology techniques at Columbia/ This means the team provided timely, life-saving angioplasty NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and at Stamford Hospital. (“balloon”) procedures to heart attack victims whose survival As Medical Director, Dr. Corvaja is spearheading HVI’s depended on how quickly they received these interventions. new Structural Heart Disease (SHD) Center and Valve The Interventional Cardiology team uses innovative technologies Clinic, a new initiative for which Dr. Colombo will be a key that enhance care and improve outcomes, including: contributor. The Center at Stamford Hospital collaborates with Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to bring • The use of the Impella ventricular assist device to provide comprehensive screening, evaluation and life-saving treatment circulation support for patients who are at high risk for to patients with structural heart and valve disease.

6 StamfordHospital.org Innovations in Interventional Cardiology Comprehensive Care for the Congestive Heart Failure Patient When Erin MacDonald, MSN, ACNP at Stamford Hospital, took on the role of data coordinator for the Congestive Heart Failure program, she had no idea it would open a world of insights about patient care. “This has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me,” said Erin, who began her career as a cardiac surgery ICU nurse. “The information we glean from this data improves the way we take care of our heart failure patients, making my job meaningful from a whole different perspective.”

Erin is an integral member of the Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) program team of physicians, nurses, case managers, social workers, pharmacists, dieticians and quality care administrators who meet monthly to develop evidence-based strategies aimed at improving the care of heart failure patients.

Joonun (Chris) Choi, MD Cardiologist “Congestive heart failure is the number one admitting diagnosis in Stamford Hospital,” said Dr. Joonun (Chris) Choi, Cardiologist at Stamford Hospital and a physician champion of the CHF program. “We’re committed to improving the care of these patients both inside and outside of the Hospital by engaging with the patient, the family and care providers in the wider community.”

The CHF program offers a complete spectrum of individualized care for the heart failure patient, beginning with when the patient first enters the Hospital through discharge. The program offers ongoing education and support services to motivate and inspire lasting heart-healthy ways of life, including:

Erin MacDonald, MSN, ACNP • Heart Failure and You, an informative series that explores topics such as medication, exercise and the importance of emotional support for the heart failure patient and family • The Brown Bag Clinic, an opportunity for heart failure patients to discuss their medications with a Stamford Hospital pharmacist • Information packets, which provide heart failure patients with healthy lifestyle modification tips concerning nutrition, weight management and the importance of regular exercise • Presentations about congestive heart failure, which are provided to skilled nursing and long-term care facilities to educate staff members and improve communication between caregivers and Stamford Hospital

Stamford Hospital Congestive Heart Failure Committee Left to right. Bottom row: Dr. Steven Horowitz, Erin MacDonald, MSN, ACNP and Dr. Joonun (Chris) Choi. Top row: Peggy Martino, Dr. Jayson Podber, Pharmacist Isabelle Millet, Dr. Maher Madhoun, Penny Carter and Shahbaz Sohail. healthline 7 Leading-Edge Initiatives in Electrophysiology

While adept at the most complex techniques, Dr. Dhruvakumar derives her greatest pleasure from building strong, lasting relationships with her patients. “One thing that moves me most is the ability to comfort my patients and let them know that there are solutions to their arrhythmias,” she said. “Many of them are bothered by their palpitations and they feel exhausted. In many instances, their symptoms have been misunderstood or misclassified for some time. “It’s such a relief for them to hear, ‘I believe you, I know what you’re experiencing, and we can do something for you.’”

The New Electrophysiology Lab

When Dr. Dhruvakumar came on board as Medical Director of Electrophysiology, she worked with Stamford Hospital to design a new electrophysiology lab that would enhance the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias while maximizing patient safety and comfort. Sandhya Dhruvakumar, MD Medical Director of Electrophysiology This winter, the Hospital will open its new electrophysiology lab, replete with the most advanced imaging technology available today.

The Electrophysiology Department at Stamford Hospital is Specific features of the new lab include: the regional leader in providing innovative treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. This year, Stamford Hospital was proud • A new biplane fluoroscopy unit that produces high-resolution to appoint Sandhya Dhruvakumar, MD as Medical Director images from two different points of view to improve diagnosis of Electrophysiology. and better guide treatment. The new technology also markedly reduces radiation exposure, leading to a greater HVI is a perfect fit for Dr. Dhruvakumar, who sought to apply potential for safety and efficacy. her advanced skills to a cardiac center that places patients first. “I love the friendly and warm culture at the Heart & Vascular • The most advanced 3D mapping system available for catheter Institute and its focus on the patient,” she said. “People are kind navigation and placement within the heart. to each other as they join together for the common goal of taking • Cryoablation (freezing) technology to treat arrhythmias care of people.” and a new treatment modality for atrial fibrillation called Dr. Dhruvakumar specializes in complex ablation techniques cryoballoon ablation. for the treatment of arrhythmias. Her primary goal is to raise • Intercardiac echocardiography that uses ultrasound to create awareness about the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation 3-D, real time visualization of the heart. to treat atrial fibrillation, the most common type of rhythm disturbance, and other abnormal heart rhythms. • A 56” display monitor that permits the simultaneous layering of images on the screen, enabling the physicians to view “Ten percent of people over the age of 65 have atrial fibrillation, multiple perspectives in real time. and it can be very troubling to them,” Dr. Dhruvakumar explained. “There are limited medical options to treat this condition and, because it’s not life-threatening, many patients are left to suffer. But with catheter ablation we can get rid of that bothersome arrhythmia.”

8 StamfordHospital.org Introducing the New Structural Heart Disease (SHD) Center and Valve Clinic

Strength in collaboration — that’s the founding principle of the Heart & Vascular Institute’s new Structural Heart Disease (SHD) Center and Valve Clinic, where world-class heart experts join together to bring the community the very latest gold-standard approaches to cardiac care.

The mission of the Center is to provide comprehensive screening and evaluation to patients with complex structural heart and valve disease. The Center is collaborating with Nicola Corvaja, MD Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan in Interventional Cardiologist order to provide patients with the latest, most innovative Medical Director, SHD Center and Valve Clinic treatment options. “If a patient is eligible for TAVR, we can provide seamless access to the TAVR program at Columbia, which is currently the best center At the Center, a multidisciplinary team of specialty physicians in for this treatment and where it is being explored with the latest cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, vascular surgery and technological innovations,” said Dr. Corvaja. “Columbia was one cardiac imaging provide care for patients with valve disease, such as of the first centers in the country to partake in clinical trials that aortic and mitral valve stenosis, and adult congenital heart disease. studied the effectiveness of this technique.” A full spectrum of structural heart and valve procedures are provided Dr. Antonio Colombo, Chief of Interventional Cardiology at San through the Center including coronary artery stenting, valvuloplasty Raffaele Hospital and Columbus Hospital in Milan, Italy, and a for aortic valve stenosis, left atrial appendage exclusion for patients Visiting Professor of Medicine at Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian at risk for stroke due to atrial fibrillation and procedures to treat Hospital, is a member of the Center’s multidisciplinary team congenital heart conditions. that also includes Dr. Michael Coady, Chief of Cardiac Surgery One of the most common valve diseases afflicting our aging at Stamford Hospital, and top regional vascular surgeons, population is aortic valve stenosis, which is the narrowing of the interventional surgeons and cardiology experts. aortic valve opening. Many patients with this condition have One of the pioneers of the TAVR technique, Dr. Colombo previously been thought to be ineligible for corrective surgery due to will provide TAVR to patients who require it at Columbia/ their advanced age, comorbidities or previous multiple procedures. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. These patients may now be eligible for new minimally invasive repair and replacement techniques. “Dr. Colombo is a legend in the field of interventional cardiology,” said Dr. Corvaja. “His 1995 landmark study regarding new “Our goal is to provide the most advanced minimally invasive technologies in coronary stenting changed the future of minimally treatment modalities of valve repair for patients who were invasive treatments for heart disease. He remains actively previously thought to be untreatable,” said Dr. Nicola Corvaja, involved in the research and development of emerging stenting Interventional Cardiologist at Stamford Hospital and Medical technologies today.” Director of the SHD Center and Valve Clinic. “The gold standard for aortic valve stenosis is open heart surgery, but over the past The Structural Heart Disease Center and Valve Clinic at Stamford decade or so we’ve been successfully using new transcatheter Hospital offers these innovative services according to the Planetree techniques in patients who are at high risk for open heart surgery.” model of patient-centered care, in which highly accessible For a patient who is not a candidate for open heart surgery, an physicians, nurses and staff do their utmost to make patients as interdisciplinary team of experts from Stamford Hospital and comfortable as possible. Columbia/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital will coordinate a treatment plan, which may involve referring the patient for TAVR “The Center is able to provide structural heart disease patients with (transcatheter aortic valve replacement), an innovative minimally the very best care,” said Dr. Corvaja. “Through our alliance with invasive procedure in which the aortic valve is replaced without Columbia, our patients will benefit from the very best treatment open surgery. possibilities to improve longevity and quality of life.”

healthline 9 Introducing Lori Mosca, Quality Performance at HVI MD, MPH, PhD At the Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI), patient-centered quality care is achieved through a dynamic process that involves continuous performance monitoring, ongoing feedback from patients and staff, regular team meetings where issues are presented and outcomes are discussed, and the dissemination of results to professional medical organizations, physicians, nurses and administrators.

HVI participates in several national safety initiatives including the American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Disease Registries and the American Heart Association Get With the

A new level of patient-centered cardiac care has arrived at the Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI) with the addition of renowned physician and scientist Lori Mosca, MD, MPH, PhD to the leadership team. Dr. Mosca is a nationally recognized expert in preventive cardiology and women’s health with particular interest in the role of lifestyle and family-centered approaches to health. Her expertise aligns perfectly with HVI’s Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care in which the whole patient, not merely the disease, is treated.

Dr. Mosca, a Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center and the Director of Preventive Cardiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, has over 20 years of clinical and research expertise. She has been a key leader in the development of national health education and awareness programs, including the American Heart Go Red For Women, National Institute of Health Heart Truth, and the new federal campaign Make the Call. Don’t Miss a Beat, to raise womens’ awareness of heart attack symptoms and calling 911. Dr. Mosca is chair of the AHA Expert Panel Effectiveness-Based Guidelines for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women.

Dr. Mosca is the author of the book Heart to Heart, a Personal Plan for Creating a Heart-Healthy Family. She is also the host of the PBS special education program Dr. Mosca’s 3 Keys to Heart Health. Dr. Mosca has mutiple listings on America’s and New York’s Top Doctors lists. She makes frequent appearances on national television programs including, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, CNN, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News and CBS This Morning.

Championing a heart-healthy lifestyle, Dr. Mosca is a competitive triathlete, and has completed the Hawaii Ironman. The Cardiac Surgery team led by Michael Coady, MD, MPH, Chief of Cardiac Surgery

10 StamfordHospital.org Quality Performance at HVI

Guidelines® Program. These programs measure the level of care • A recent report from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) provided to heart patients at Stamford Hospital. deems Stamford Hospital’s angioplasty and stenting insertion procedures (for patients without acute coronary syndrome) The following achievements reflect the steadfast dedication and appropriate 99% of the time, compared to the national hospital teamwork of our physicians, nurses and support staff who champion average of 42%. the ideal of patient-centered quality care:

• Stamford Hospital is continuously improving the ability to provide bloodless cardiac surgery. Through June 2013, 40% of Stamford Hospital patients received a blood product during aortic valve replacement, compared to 65% at like hospitals.

James Krinsley, MD Director of Critical Care

• Therapeutic hypothermia is used in the ICU for patients who remain comatose after cardiac arrest and can dramatically improve their chances for survival and neurologic recovery. Since the initiation of this treatment in 2008, Stamford Hospital has seen a dramatic improvement in neurological intact survival (from 20% to 60%) for patients who were comatose after cardiac arrest. This is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of Dr. James Krinsley, Director of Critical Care, and the nursing team who are committed to this life-saving protocol.

• Stamford Hospital is performing more angioplasty procedures through the radial (wrist) artery, an approach that has proven to be superior to the traditional femoral (groin) artery because it reduces the chance of bleeding, improves healing and is more comfortable for patients. In the U.S. today, more than 81% of angioplasty procedures are performed through the groin, while Stamford Hospital performs more than 52% through the wrist.

The Cardiac Surgery team led by Michael Coady, MD, MPH, Chief of Cardiac Surgery

healthline 11 12 StamfordHospital.org The Many Hands of a Caring Community

One afternoon last July, Robert Len was home relaxing with his family when he suddenly collapsed on the floor. Robert’s wife Fal rushed over to Robert, who was lying unconscious with no pulse. Recognizing that he was in sudden cardiac arrest, Fal called 911 and began Hands-Only®cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Within minutes, a police officer arrived with an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restart Robert’s heart. An ambulance soon arrived and sped Robert to Stamford Hospital, where a team of heart specialists identified a lesion that was blocking 99% of his left main coronary artery as well as a lesion in his right coronary artery. The team consulted with Dr. Michael Coady, Chief of Cardiac Surgery, who recommended an emergency quadruple CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) procedure. The surgery was successful, and Robert is now enjoying a full recovery.

Robert’s life was saved by the many hands of community members who knew just what to do for a person in sudden cardiac arrest, a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year. Survival depends on receiving immediate CPR from a bystander. Unfortunately, Robert Len and his homing pigeons 89% of people who suffer a cardiac arrest die because they don’t receive immediate CPR. and received great care, from his wife who performed Luckily, Fal was right nearby at the time of Robert’s collapse. Hands-Only® CPR, to the police officer who was trained to use A nurse who works at Stamford Hospital, Fal followed the a defibrillator, to the emergency responders and our team at AHA’s guidelines for rescuing a person in cardiac arrest, which Stamford Hospital who took care of him.” are to immediately call 911, then perform Hands-Only® CPR, a technique that involves pushing hard and fast in the center of “Performing early CPR on a patient in cardiac arrest can double the chest. the patient’s chances of survival,” said Dr. Thomas Nero, an Interventional Cardiologist at Stamford Hospital who spearheads “In the 30 years that I’ve been a nurse I’ve never needed to use the Hands for Life® program that teaches Hands-Only® CPR to CPR on anyone until that day when my husband collapsed,” members of the community. said Fal. “I feel so fortunate that I was home at the time and knew exactly what to do. I also knew that the sooner someone As a result of our educational efforts, survival rates for patients arrived with a defibrillator, the greater the chance of his life who arrive at Stamford Hospital in cardiac arrest have increased being saved.” from 20% five years ago to almost 60% today.

The police arrived at the Len household with an automated Now, four months after his near-catastrophe, Robert is back external defibrillator (AED). The defibrillator delivered a shock to enjoying his favorite activities, including raising and racing to Robert’s heart to restore his regular heart rhythm. In the homing pigeons, walking his two dogs and spending time with ambulance, the paramedics shocked Robert’s heart twice more. his grandchildren. “I have more stamina now than I did prior He arrived at Stamford Hospital ready to receive life-saving to the operation,” he said. “Soon I hope to be back on my cardiovascular surgery. mountain bike.”

“Everything aligned beautifully for this patient,” said “I’ll never forget the amazing people in our community who came Dr. Coady. “He was in the right place at the right time together to save my life,” he added.

Robert and Fal Len

healthline 13 Mobile Wellness Center Brings Cardiovascular Screenings to the Community For the past 10 years, Stamford Hospital’s Mobile Wellness Center has been providing breast cancer education and screenings to women age 40 and over where they work, play and live. Now, in an effort to encourage both men and women to get regular heart health screenings, the Mobile Wellness Center offers evidence-based cardiovascular screenings to residents and employers throughout Fairfield County.

The cardiovascular screenings include biometric and non-invasive cardiovascular tests that provide an instantaneous snapshot of a person’s overall health. The biometric screening includes blood pressure testing, cholesterol panel, body mass index and metabolic analysis, carotid ultrasound and aortic ultrasound. Individuals receive wellness reports, counseling and referrals. Persons with abnormal findings will be contacted by a nurse from the Heart & Vascular Institute. Dr. Thomas Nero and the Hands for Life® Program 100 beats per minute. The comprehensive program teaches Hands-Only® CPR without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Training takes 15 minutes from start to finish.

Dr. Nero is proud of Hands for Life®, which he estimates has Thomas Nero, MD Interventional Cardiologist trained close to 9,000 people. “We initially started out with a small program, training 100 people at a time, and now we’ve begun a citywide initiative in Stamford. We’ve already trained the Stamford city maintenance and road crews, and are looking for ways to make this program even bigger!”

Last year, Dr. Nero and his Hands for Life® team broke the world record when they trained 5,141 people in CPR and the use Since 2008, Dr. Thomas Nero has directed the Hands for Life® of an AED in one day. program with far-reaching success, resulting in higher patient survival rates and an ever-expanding community of people who Dr. Nero has appeared on several radio and television programs, know how to save lives. including CBS Morning News and News 12 Connecticut, to spread the word about the importance of early CPR and AED “We initiated this program after realizing that cardiac arrest use. His next project involves working with the American patients who received early CPR were significantly more likely College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association to to survive,” said Dr. Nero, an Interventional Cardiologist at make the Hands for Life® training program mandatory for high Stamford Hospital. “Right now only 25% of patients in cardiac school students in Connecticut. arrest receive CPR at the time that the first responders arrive. Our goal is to increase this as much as possible, hopefully to as “We’re empowering people to be prepared and ready to act!” said much as 100%.” Dr. Nero. “Everyone can learn how to do this, and every second counts! There should be no barrier between you and your ability The goal of the Hands for Life® program is to teach people that to save a life!” they can save the life of a person who has collapsed in cardiac arrest by knowing how to Check, Call and Compress — check For more information on the Hands for Life® program, visit the for breathing, call 911 and administer chest compressions at website at handsforlife.org.

14 StamfordHospital.org HVI News and Achievements AHA Partnership News Dr. Michael Coady, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Stamford Hospital, has been named President of the Board of Directors of the Westchester/Fairfield County chapter of the American Heart Association (AHA). Dr. Coady is working closely with the AHA and Stamford Hospital on initiatives designed to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Ongoing AHA and Stamford Hospital partnership events include the Fairfield County Heart Walk (www.FairfieldCountyHeartWalk.org), the organization’s signature fundraising event that promotes exercise and heart-healthy living in a casual, fun setting, and the AHA’s annual Go Red for Women luncheon, where nurses provide free screenings and counseling to attendees, and physicians provide lectures and participate in panel discussions.

Get With The Guidelines® Heart Failure Bronze Quality Achievement Award Stamford Hospital is the proud recipient of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Heart Failure Bronze Quality Achievement Award. The recognition signifies that Stamford Hospital has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients for at least 90 days with Update on the New 85 percent compliance to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients. This achievement recognizes Stamford Hospital the work of an interdisciplinary team led by Dr. Steven Horowitz, Dr. Joonun Progress continues to be made on work for the (Chris) Choi and Erin MacDonald, MSN, ACNP. new Stamford Hospital. Here are some of the latest details: The Second Annual Cardiovascular Symposium • Steel is now complete through the third floor of what will be the west end of the new On November 1, Stamford Hospital hospital building. hosted the Second Annual Cardiovascular Symposium at the Stamford Yacht Club • Steel work began on the east end of the featuring Keynote Speaker Mehmet Oz, MD, building in October. Work on this portion will Host of the Emmy® Award-Winning continue through the eighth floor and finish The Dr. Oz Show and Vice-Chair and in January. Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. • The new Central Utility Plant is scheduled to Dr. Oz’s keynote presentation was entitled be complete by the end of the year. All About YOU: Lessons Learned About Mehmet Oz, MD • Over the past few months, we installed Speaking to Patients and the Public. Regional additional directional signage around the physicians presented current topics in campus to assist our patients and visitors with cardiovascular medicine, including: the new entrance locations and available • The National and Regional parking options. Healthcare Environment • Hypertension For ongoing updates on the construction process, • Lifestyle Changes visit StamfordHospital.org. • Molecular Biology and Tissue Engineering in Cardiology • Modern Treatment Strategies for Atrial Fibrillation

healthline 15 30 Shelburne Road | P.O. Box 9317 | Stamford, CT 06904-9317 203.276.1000 StamfordHospital.org

Celebrating Healthy Hearts February 8, 2014 Tully Health Center 32 Strawberry Hill Court, Stamford, CT Registration free of charge, includes screenings and refreshments

Screenings Exhibit Hall Blood Pressure Ask the Doctor – Cardiologists Cardiac/Stroke Risk Assessments Center for Sleep Medicine Cholesterol & Glucose Diabetes & Endocrine Center (non-fasting) Heart & Vascular Institute Pulmonary Function Tests Integrative Medicine Keynote Speaker Ask the Nutritionist Lori Mosca, MD, MPH, PhD Ask the Pharmacist Director of Preventive Cardiology Stroke Center American Heart Association Cardiac Rehabilitation Faces of Heart and Better U Health & Fitness Institute Program Launch Pulmonary Rehabilitation Hands for Life For more information Demonstration & Training and to view a virtual tour of the ICC, visit For more information, call 877.233.WELL (9355) StamfordHospital.org/ICC or visit StamfordHospital.org/healthyhearts. or call 203.276.2222.

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