Reunion Marks Cardiac Unit Opening

December’s official opening of the Advanced Cardiac Therapy (ACT) Unit reunited former patients with their physicians and nurses to recognize the newly specialized floor and the exceptional care that is now being provided in one inpatient location.

Lynne Stevenson, MD, director of Heart Failure, began the formal remarks at the event. “This is an exciting day that represents the culmination of years of hard work from a dedicated team of clinicians. But most importantly, the ACT represents how we are now able to treat a disease that was once thought of as an end,” she said.

The pod is designed for patients with active and acute conditions, who anticipate a major change in their therapy. This population includes patients requiring major changes in their therapy including new medications, pacemakers or state-of-the-art cardiac surgery, including valve repair, ventricular assist device (VAD) insertion or heart transplant.

Many of 12A’s patients who are awaiting heart transplants have received a VAD as a life-saving bridge to their ultimate therapy.

According to Nurse Manager Mary Lou Moore, RN, “12A will now offer in a more centralized manner the integrated team of specialists, nurses and physicians that the modern heart failure patient requires.”