Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2018

By Andrea Nagel Tom Vittetow is a busy guy. The retired truck driver and his wife of 47 years recently moved to Spirit Lake, Idaho, to live with their daughter, son-in-law, and five (soon to be six) grandchildren. In addition to juggling gymnastics practices, chopping wood, caring for their two dogs, and being grandpa, Tom has congestive heart failure, which requires continual monitoring and treatment. Tom Vittetow is among the first in the region to better his health and gain independence in the CardioMEMS heart failure program. At the heart of great care Learn more about Kootenai Heart Clinics Northwest at KH.org/hcnw . If you have questions about CardioMEMS or would like to talk with a provider, call the Coeur d’Alene office at (208) 625-5250 or the downtown Spokane office at (509) 847-2500 . Tom experienced shortness of breath and fatigue for months before seeing his primary care provider. “I felt like I couldn’t do anything; I had no energy,” he said. “I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Dr. MacInerney at Kootenai Heart Clinics Northwest treated my artery disease with a stent, and it helped tremendously.” In addition to his stent, Tom qualified for a new procedure to help monitor his heart failure. The CardioMEMS heart failure system is a new wireless monitoring device that has been proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions when used by physicians to help manage heart failure. “Heart failure is a chronic health problem that requires ongoing man- agement,” said Connie Keibler, NP, Tom’s provider at Kootenai Heart Clinics Northwest. “We want to give our patients the tools to manage their disease as independently as possible.” How itworks The CardioMEMS sensor is implanted in the pulmonary artery during a nonsurgical procedure. The sensor measures fluid pressure in the heart. Before this device became available, lab tests and echocardiograms were used to detect heart failure; now with this device, providers can check for increased pressure remotely and intervene before patients experience symptoms. The new system allows pa- tients to transmit daily sensor readings from their homes to their health care providers, allowing for personalized and proactive management to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization. “It means a lot to be able to be independent and be close to home,” Tom said. “My wife just started a dialysis program at home, and I often help her with daily tasks. It’s important to me that I can be there for her and our grandchildren.” Apartner inmanagement Connie and her team are able to mon- itor CardioMEMS patients through an online database. They can log in daily or weekly, depending on the patient’s health status, and make adjustments to their care plan if needed. “The data we get from the device precedes symptoms, so we can act before a patient feels the need to come see us or go to the emergency room,” she said. “This doesn’t replace our interactions or relationship with them by any means. We still talk over the phone frequently and have them come in for checkups as needed. What this allows is the patient to be an active member of their own care; it empow- ers them to manage their disease with us assisting them.” Heart failure is one of the most common diagnoses in the U.S. Patients with heart failure tend to be hospitalized frequently, have a reduced quality of life, and face a higher risk of death. Since Kootenai started the CardioMEMS program, only one patient has been re- hospitalized—an impressive drop in hospital readmissions. “The objective data we receive from the CardioMEMS sensor allows us to manage care so much better,” said Connie. “We can see a decrease in a patient’s condition three to five weeks before they start having outward symptoms. It increases their quality of life, decreases hospitaliza- tions, and allows for quicker intervention if necessary.” Tom is thankful for the monitoring and works closely with his health care team to ensure he stays healthy. “I feel better and am able to do much more now,” Tom said. “This has been one of the best things to happen to me. I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me get back to good health.” KH . ORG 7