Helping heart patients recover at home

Sharp Grossmont Hospital opened its Heart and Lung Clinic in 2020. Located within the Sharp Grossmont Care Clinic, it is designed as a bridge to follow-up care from a patient’s cardiologist or primary care doctor after the patient leaves the hospital.

The Heart and Lung Clinic staff offers services such as ensuring medications are up to date, performing physical exams and discussing advanced illness management. Staff members work with patients to ensure they understand and follow the care plan they receive when they leave the hospital. Patients are usually seen three to seven days after they leave the hospital.

Preventing another cardiac event after heart failure

“Cardiovascular disease is a lifelong condition,” says Leslie Hazard, cardiology nurse practitioner at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. “The mission of the clinic is to provide exceptional care to patients who have been treated and discharged from Sharp Grossmont Hospital for cardiovascular disease but are at high risk for having another cardiac event that may bring them back to the hospital.”

Some high-risk patients may not have a follow-up appointment with their cardiologist or primary care doctor for several weeks. Identifying these patients and arranging for them to visit the clinic shortly after leaving the hospital can help reduce the risk of another cardiac event and allow patients to live as symptom-free as possible.

Betty’s grateful patient story

One patient who has benefited from the clinic is Betty Fischer. At 89, Betty had a long history of cardiovascular disease.

In her mid-60s, Betty retired from her career as a college department administrator due to complications from atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of abnormal heart rhythm. As years passed, Betty survived three heart attacks, the first in 2012, the second in 2015 and the third in 2020. She also had several procedures to place stents in her major blood vessels.

“When I had my third heart attack this year, I was having chest pressure,” recalls Betty. “My daughter took me to the emergency department.”

Betty soon learned that she had developed congestive heart failure, a chronic condition that occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently to the rest of the body. Congestive heart failure is often caused by high blood pressure or coronary artery disease (narrowed blood vessels) that, over time, can weaken the heart.

Newly diagnosed, Betty’s care team started her on medications specifically for congestive heart failure and made changes to some of her other medications. Shortly after being sent home from the hospital, she had a follow-up visit at the Heart and Lung Clinic.

Importance of a coordinated continuum of care

“Patients over age 65 are potentially at a higher risk of developing side effects from medications that might not be evident until after they are discharged,” says Hazard. “Patients are oftentimes overwhelmed when diagnosed with a new condition, such as congestive heart failure. It takes time to process and understand their new disease."

According to Hazard, the clinic's team members work with patients one-on-one to assess their vital signs and review their adherence and tolerance to medications. They also address any questions or concerns a patient may have.

Betty still has symptoms, such as shortness of breath, and she uses a cane to walk. But she has learned to manage her symptoms and condition with the help of her family and doctors.

She is grateful for the continuum of care she has received so far.

“From Colleen Austel Nadeau, who was my heart failure nurse who cared for me while in the hospital, to my doctors and the entire team that sees me now, they are all absolutely fabulous," Betty says. "They have all been extremely wonderful.”

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