Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/188367
The Heart Valve Clinic at Via Christi By Cori Dodds Richard Allenbach, PA-C, is Director of the Heart Valve Clinic at Via Christi. BECAUSE OF THE many challenges faced by patients with heart Allenbach, PA-C, Director of the clinic. "Patients have to make valve disease, the Heart Valve Clinic at Via Christi Hospital the effort to come to St. Francis for care, but at that point we St. Francis combines the expertise of a multidisciplinary team come to them and they aren't required to travel to a number of of physicians. This team, which includes structural cardiolo- different places to receive care." gists and cardiovascular surgeons, is especially qualified to evaluate and treat complex heart disease. In addition, the team's expertise is valuable in evaluating and Patients who meet one or more of these criteria are good candidates for the Heart Valve Clinic: + severe aortic valve stenosis preparing treatment plans for patients who may have compli- + moderate or severe mitral valve stenosis cating factors such as advanced age, comorbidities or a history + severe mitral valve regurgitation of medical issues. + pulmonary valve stenosis "Nationwide, it's been shown that a multidisciplinary approach to valve disease improves patient care and out- + patients for whom traditional valve replacement poses a high risk "The Valve Clinic offers a setting to foster physician col- comes," says Bassem Chehab, MD. "It's also more efficient. laboration, which in turn maximizes best care practices," says All the members of the team are in one place, which makes it Brett Grizzell, MD. easier on the patient and reduces overhead costs for care." Treatment options include: + traditional surgery + minimally invasive surgery + hybrid procedure (minimally invasive surgery with simultaneous percutaneous intervention) + balloon valvuloplasty + percutaneous valve repair/replacement To support research and advances in the treatment of cardiac valve disease, the clinic also maintains a robust clinical database of complex valve disorders. "The Valve Clinic serves as a centralized point where patients can be evaluated by the team," says Richard For more information about the Heart Valve Clinic at Via Christi, call 316-268-8650.