Huron Regional Medical Center

A Healthy Heart From providing heart-healthy lifestyle guidance to helping people to their feet after cardiac surgery, Huron Regional Medical Center plays an important role in preventing, diagnosing and mending damaged hearts. Critical Care, CRITICAL CONNECTIONS An Eye on Prevention Because HRMC does not offer cardiovascular surgery, many people don't realize that we provide cardiac care. We evaluate medical emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, and provide our community members with essential services they need to heal their hearts and stay well. The HRMC emergency department (ED) has been designated by the South Dakota Department of Health as a Community Trauma Hospital since 2011. Though we don't provide open- heart surgery, angioplasty or stent placement, we have connections with tertiary hospitals in Sioux Falls that provide these services. If patients arrive with chest pain, for example, and we determine they need heart surgery or a stenting procedure, we prepare them for timely transport to a facility better suited to meet their needs. In addition to emergency care, we house the HRMC Specialty Clinic to reduce a patient's need to travel to see a cardiologist. Most heart patients see a cardiologist frequently for non-emergency care. HRMC's visiting cardiologists Kevin Vaska, MD, Lloyd Solberg, MD, and Kelly Steffen, DO, regularly see patients and perform diagnostic testing, such as cardiac stress tests at HRMC. Dr. Vaska sees patients on Mondays and Wednesdays. Drs. Solberg and Steffen see patients at HRMC on Tuesdays. To schedule an appointment with a visiting cardiologist, visit www.huronregional.org/find-a-doc and search "cardiology" or click on the Visiting Specialist calendar. Heart disease isn't always avoidable. But you can lessen your chance of developing severe heart disease or experiencing a heart attack or stroke by: • filling your plate with heart-healthy whole grains, fruits, veggies, lean protein and small servings of healthy fats, such as olive oil • exercising at least 30 minutes five days a week • finding healthy ways to deal with stress, such as meditation or yoga • quitting smoking We understand that making lifestyle changes can be difficult, so we offer resources to help. Adults who need to lose a few pounds or are at risk for heart disease can learn how to prepare healthier meals by participating in nutritional counseling with our in-house dietitian. Huron Regional Medical Center also offers a variety of annual educational events and screenings, including Go Red for Your Heart. Keep in mind that living a healthy lifestyle is only one piece of the puzzle. You should also have a yearly wellness visit. During these appointments, physicians check your heart-health numbers, including weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Need a primary care provider? Visit www.huronregional.org/find-a-doc to find a family or internal medicine physician. To schedule an appointment for nutrition counseling, call (605) 353-6585. 4 welloneconnection w w w. h u r o n r e g i o n a l . o r g

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