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documented, a nd hea r t hea lth is monitored closely. A f ter three months, pa r ticipa nts emba rk on the nex t pha se of rehabilitation — an additiona l three-month exercise program under less direct super vision. Ca rdiac patients meet less frequently w ith exercise physiolog ists a nd a re g radua lly clea red to continue exercising on their own. "One of the benef its of being in a community setting is that this helps reinforce the rehabilitation a nd education they need to be successf ul a f ter a ca rdiac event," Dr. A ltschul says. "Strong relationships develop between our ca rdiolog y patients and the medica l professiona ls with whom they work to rega in their streng th a nd well-being." LOOKING AHEAD A f t er a ch iev i n g much du r i n g t he pa s t 1 5 yea r s , G ood Samaritan Hospita l continues to push for ward as an innova- tor in the fields of cardiac diagnostics, inter vention and care. Pla ns a re in place to add the tra nscatheter aor tic va lve repl a c ement ( TAV R) proc edu re t o t he i nt er vent ion a l offerings at the hospita l. TAV R a llows surgeons to replace da maged va lves in the hea r t without requiring the remova l of the damaged va lve. Using minima lly invasive techniques, surgeons insert the TAVR implant through the femora l artery or a tiny opening in the chest. The TAV R impla nt is inser ted in its collapsed form, then ma neuvered into place where it is expa nded, wedg ing open the da maged va lve without the risks associated with the traditiona l open surgica l procedure that ca n sometimes preclude patients from qua lif ying for surger y if they have medica l complications or a re fra il. Arrangements are also in place to collaborate with St. Francis Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital and other area institutions as a share care center for patients with left ventricular assist devices, one of the final pathways in the management of severe refractory heart failure or as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. In addition, on-site seminars and lectures allow patients to learn more about managing devices without the need to travel to St. Francis Hospital or other facilities further from their home areas, saving patients time and reducing the stress that upkeep places on their daily routines. " With the support of hospita l leadership, our strategic relationships with area leaders in heart health and a team of consummate professionals whose true passion is cardiology, Good Samaritan Hospital is poised to continue doing what we do best — bringing in the latest advances in cardiac care and empowering our providers to offer patient-centered care to those we serve," says Dr. Altschul. "This is a full-service program staffed by physicians, nurses and support personnel who are both passionate and proud to have developed a program that now delivers the full spectrum of cardiovascular care, from patient education through state-of-the-art diagnostic modalities, cardiac intervention and surgery, and arrhythmia management to comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation. Those we take care of can take comfort in our setting and experi- ence, and referring physicians can trust our commitment to open discussion, collaboration and always keeping patients' needs first." For more information about Good Samaritan Hospital's cardiol- ogy services, visit good-samaritan-hospital.org/cardiology. n 1 0❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R S T O R Y Patients with cardiovascular disease, angina, congestive heart failure, heart attack, or who recently had heart surgery or an interventional procedure, undergo cardiac rehabilitation with exercise specialists at Good Samaritan to meet outlined goals for a healthy lifestyle. Good Samaritan Hospital participates in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's CathPCI Registry, a reporting protocol that collects data about the use, success and effectiveness of percutaneous coronary interventions. "Data submitted in this registry will help shape the future best practices of catheterization and other interventions," says Ezra Deutsch, MD, Director of Interventional Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Good Samaritan Hospital. "Improving patient safety and outcomes are chief priorities here." 1 0