Maimonides makes the list
Report names local medical center
among country’s 10 best hospitals
Maimonides Medical Center ranked signifi cantly above average in fi ve of the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services’ seven categories for superior-survival rates.
oronary Artery Disease
(CAD) is the most common
form of heart disease,
claiming nearly 400,000
lives across the country each
year. CAD is a condition in
which the cardiac arteries
get clogged with plaque, a
substance made from various
materials that circulate in
the blood. Arterial plaque restricts
blood flow and oxygen
delivery to the heart, which
can lead to heart attacks.
Screening for CAD and, if indicated,
subsequent lifestyle
changes and medical therapy,
are key to keeping artery
blockage from progressing.
People who are overweight,
have a history of
smoking or a family history
of the disease are more likely
to develop CAD. Symptoms
include shortness of breath,
fatigue with exertion and
chest pain. However, especially
in the early stages of
blockage buildup in the arteries,
there are often no noticeable
symptoms, so routine
screenings are critical.
“Screenings such as blood
pressure tests and fasting
glucose and lipoprotein profiles
should be performed routinely.
They can give some insight
into a patient’s overall
coronary health,” said Robert
Tranbaugh, MD, chair of
the Department of Cardiothoracic
Surgery at NewYork
Presbyterian Brooklyn
Methodist. “However, these
are not enough for those patients
with suspected cardiac
symptoms.”
A stress test monitors
heart performance while
the patient performs an activity
that pushes the heart,
usually exercise. Although
a stress test can provide cardiologists
COURIER L 42 IFE, FEB. 1–7, 2019 M B G
with information
about the heart’s rhythm
and ability to pump blood, it
cannot produce a visual image
of the arteries. A more
advanced diagnostic procedure,
cardiac computed tomography
(CT) is a noninvasive
test that allows direct
visualization of the artery
and the degree of blockage
present. It is also a great option
for those patients who
are unable to exercise during
a conventional stress test.
During a cardiac CT
scan, iodine-based dye is injected
into the patient’s blood
stream. The patient is then
placed inside a circular x-ray
scanner that captures thousands
of cross-sectional images
or “slices” of the heart.
Using sophisticated digital
imaging software, these
slices are combined into a
three-dimensional-rendered
image of the heart and its
arteries. Cardiologists can
then use these images to find
artery blockages indicative
of coronary artery disease.
The test takes only a few minutes.
There are several approaches
to treatment for
CAD. Lifestyle change is a
long-term component. This
includes eating a hearthealthy
diet high in lean
proteins, fruits, vegetables
and whole grains, getting
regular exercise, managing
weight and quitting smoking.
A physician may also
prescribe medication to help
manage cholesterol and prevent
blood clots. If a patient’s
CAD is severe enough, an interventional
procedure, such
as an angioplasty, which
widens the blocked artery,
may be recommended. Often,
though not always, during
an angioplasty, a small wire
mesh tube called a “stent”
is permanently placed in
the artery to prop it open. In
more severe cases of CAD,
coronary bypass surgery,
which reroutes blood around
the blocked artery, may be
indicated.
To schedule an appointment
with a physician affiliated
with NYP Brooklyn Methodist
Hospital, please call
718-499-2273 or visit www.nyp.
org/brooklyn.
Health
The federal government recently
recognized Maimonides Medical
Center’s outstanding work in saving
Brooklynites’ lives — ranking it
one of the top 10 health systems in the
country for superior survival rates.
Kenneth D. Gibbs, president and
chief executive offi cer at the hospital,
on Jan. 16 announced that Maimonides
had received the honor — placing it
among the nation’s best hospitals, including
Massachusetts General, the
Cleveland Clinic, Cedars Sinai, and
New York-Presbyterian.
“From the very fi rst year that the
federal government has measured
mortality rates, Maimonides has been
a top performer,” said Gibbs. “At fi rst
there were only two cardiac conditions
evaluated — heart attack and
heart failure. So it seemed natural
that a renowned heart hospital like
Maimonides would do well. But as additional
diagnoses were added to the
mix — like pneumonia and stroke —
our medical center has continued to
achieve outstanding results for Brooklyn’s
families across multiple specialty
areas.”
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services annually compare mortality
rates at every hospital in the
nation. The most recent report shows
that only a handful of hospitals nationwide
rise above the rest in maintaining
better-than-expected results for
their patients. There are seven diagnoses
reviewed for mortality. Maimonides
is above average in two categories
— and signifi cantly above average
in the other fi ve: heart attack, heart
failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, and stroke.
“It’s a validation of the many teams
who work day and night to deliver outstanding
care to patients at Maimonides,”
said Dr. Samuel Kopel, medical
director of Maimonides Medical Center.
“Our doctors and clinicians never
stop building on their successes—they
continually try to exceed the standard
of care to bring the best possible results
to every patient.”
Maimonides Medical Center has a
long history of providing exceptional
patient care through a culture of teamwork
in its interdisciplinary Centers
of Excellence and its commitment to
continuous innovation.
For more information about the
clinical services and many innovations
achieved at Maimonides Medical Center,
visit www.maimonidesmed.org/
about-us/quality-safety.
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/www.nyp
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