Heart Center provides a wide spectrum of care

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) currently lists heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. Risk factors for this silent killer include smoking, physical inactivity, high cholesterol or blood pressure, stress, obesity and diabetes. "The biggest change we've seen over the years is the increase in diabetes, which increases the risk of heart disease by two to four times, especially if it is poorly controlled," said Sandra Parker, R.N. of Wooster Community Hospital's Heart Center.

On the bright side, however, the overall number of deaths from heart attacks continues to decrease because of advances in treatment options. And thanks to the Heart Center, many of those advanced treatment options are now available locally.

This has not always been the case. When cardiologist Alex Nicolozakes, M.D. first came to Wooster, he said the hospital had no cardiac specialty area and little diagnostic equipment. Today, the five physicians at the Heart Center do everything up to and including catheterization, pacemakers and defibrillators. "For patients appropriate to be treated in Wooster, we've provided state of the art care," said Nicolozakes. "Putting the patient first is our primary goal here."

Services available at the Heart Center run the gamut from diagnosis to surgery to rehab. On the diagnostic end, their two vascular labs provide a variety of blood flow testing options. Stress testing is available on a treadmill or, for those who are unable to walk on the treadmill, with medications that replicate that experience. In the hospital's three echocardiography labs, staff use ultrasound technology to examine the heart, while more invasive testing can be done in the catheterization lab.

Once a problem is diagnosed, lower-risk patients may opt to have the necessary procedures performed at Wooster Community Hospital (WCH). In the catheterization lab, managed by Darryl Manley, physicians can clear blocked arteries in the legs and abdomen, insert pacemakers and defibrillators, repair abdominal aortic aneurysms, and perform venous filter placement, dialysis grafts and more.

Bernard Lewis recently experienced a heart catheterization at WCH. His wife, Janet, said the staff did a fabulous job. "They made us feel very comfortable—it was not scary at all," she said. "Dr. Moodispaw was very professional and had a great bedside manner."

"The cardiologists we have are very experienced—I wouldn't hesitate to go to any of them," said Joel Chupp, R.N. manager at the Heart Center. Area cardiologists Dr. Paul Moodispaw, Dr. Alex Nicolozakes and Dr. Cyril Ofori together with general and vascular surgeon Dr. Robert Cebul all perform cardiac and/or vascular procedures at the Heart Center.

In addition, Dr. Emile Daoud, head of the Electrophysiology Department at Ohio State University, visits monthly to install pacemakers and defibrillators. "It's really a feather in our cap as a hospital to have him here—something else we've done to serve patients here locally," said Manley.

Once their condition has been treated, cardiac patients can follow up with the cardiac rehabilitation program. In the Phase 2 program, each patient is evaluated and prescribed an individualized exercise program under medical supervision. A registered dietitian is available to answer dietary questions, and nursing staff monitor the patients as they exercise.

Group classes are an important component of the program, as are individual counseling sessions. Hospital staff help each patient to identify their risk factors and outline a plan for preventing future problems.

Once Phase 2 is complete, patients who want to continue an exercise maintenance program in a clinically supervised setting may enroll in Phase 3 cardiac rehab. Dale Weinman, of Wooster, has continued cardiac rehab at WCH ever since his triple bypass surgery in 1996.

"I've been very happy with the program," Weinman said. "Everyone there has the same problem and I've met some really great people. They've become like a second family to me—we all support each other. I'd recommend the program to anyone with heart problems."

A majority of Phase 3 patients have been enrolled for more than five years. "Staff members usually hear of any cardiac symptoms or changes in health with this group, as well as the Phase II (monitored group), before the physician does and will expedite needed interventions," Chupp noted.

Not only is the Heart Center conveniently located for cardiac patients in Wayne and surrounding counties, its wide range of services, state of the art equipment and caring staff make it a truly excellent choice. Call 330-263-8282 to learn more about what Wooster Community Hospital can offer or visit their website at http://woosterhospital.org.