In 2006, Leona McGuire, 81, of Howell, N.J., had surgery to treat thyroid cancer and was looking forward to returning home. But when her physician in Pennsylvania discovered problems with her blood work, he required that she have a cardiac catheterization.
The test found nothing, but Leona was experiencing congestive heart failure a week later. This condition can cause swelling in the legs and ankles, fatigue, and shortness of breath. She headed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment. It was there that Kimberly McCourt, R.N., a nurse practioner at Jersey Shore's Heart Faulure Center approached Leona about their services.
"At the center, we help manage heart failure by adjusting medication doses to help alleviate symptoms and slow the progression of the disease," says McCourt. "We also provide in-depth education and close follow-up to help patients take control of their condition and to prevent readmission to the hospital."
After she was released from Jersey Shore, Leona followed up every few weeks with the Heart Failure Center for procedures such as receiving intravenous diuretics to help alleviate the buildup of fluid that occurs during heart failure.
But Leona was still having problems. "Kimberly and Eileen Oates, R.N., at the Center informed me that even with aggressive treatment, Leona's health was failing," says Lance Berger, M.D., medical director of the Center. "It was clear we needed to start from the beginning, so we performed a cardiac catheterization, an echocardiogram, and a transesophageal echocardiogram. That revealed two bad heart valves that required surgery."
Dr. Berger followed a multidisciplinary approach to ensure Leona was ready for surgery. He consulted with an oncologist, an otolaryngologist, and a lung specialist. Once cleared, Leona was schedule for surgery with David Johnson, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon at Jersey Shore.
"In Leona's case, we needed to replace two different valves to resolve two separate problems," Dr. Johnson. "The aortic valve was narrowed and and obstructed. That affects the blood outflow from the heart and hinders the heart muscle's pumping ability. The mitral valve was leaking. It was working twice as hard." After surgery, Leona's symptoms were greatly relieved.
"We work with heart failure patients and their physicians to control symptoms and prevent future hospitalizations due to heart failure," says Dr. Berger. "Eighty percent of all heart failure hospital admissions are potentially avoidable. Forty percent are due to medication noncompliance, and the other 40 percent are due to a poor diet. This is why education is so important."
Leona's daughter, Karen, agrees. "The ongoing education they provide enables me to look for signs that my mother might need to be brought in for treatment," says Karen. Karen also appreciates the weekly telemonitoring calls from the staff to check on Leona's symptoms, diet, and medications.
"Thanks to the Heart Failure Center, I feel good and I am still able to do all the things I used to do before, like gardening," Leona says.
About the Doctors
Lance S. Berger, M.D.
Board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases
Ocean | 732-663-0300
David L. Johnson, M.D.
Board certified in General and Thoracic Surgery
Neptune | 732-776-4618
