OneConnect August 2020 First TAVR completed at MercyOne Siouxland MercyOne Siouxland Heart and Vascular Center physicians completed the region’s first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure on July 1. This minimally-invasive heart procedure includes replacing a narrowed aortic valve that fails to open properly, called aortic valve stenosis. TAVR can be an option for patients at risk for complications from open-heart surgery and is an impressive team approach to personalized heart care. Interventional Cardiologists Dr. Stilianos Efstratiadis and Dr. Glynne “[I am] delighted to have participated in the first TAVR in Siouxland, with resounding success. It was truly a collaborative effort of the heart valve team and heralds a new era in treatment of aortic valve disease in the region.” – Glynne Edwards, MD Edwards joined with Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Giovanni Ciuffo for the first TAVR at MercyOne Siouxland, assisted by an expert team of cath lab and surgery technicians, anesthesiologists, perfusionists and non-invasive cardiology technicians. Moville Family Medicine now open After its March opening was delayed due to COVID-19, MercyOne Moville Family Medicine finally opened July 6. This primary care clinic fills a void for the Moville community, which experienced the exit of an independent family practice clinic earlier in the year. Ashley Pollema, ARNP, will provide care to patients at the Moville clinic, both in-person and through virtual visits. The clinic opened to strong patient numbers as community members gain confidence in returning to medical clinic and continue to make wellness checks a priority. To perform TAVR, the doctor accesses the patient’s heart through a blood vessel in the leg. A catheter is then inserted while advanced imaging techniques guide it through the patient’s blood vessels, to the heart and into the aortic valve. Blue Distinction Centers designation Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has recognized MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center with a Blue Distinction® Centers+ designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Spine Surgery and Knee and Hip Replacement programs. Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and readmissions. Blue Distinction Centers® are nationally designated providers who show expertise in delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations. In addition to meeting these qualities thresholds, hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are, on average, 20 percent more cost-efficient in surgery of care compared to their peers. SMEF 2020/2021 New Family Medicine Residents Katherine Evans, DO Robert Garekis, DO Austin Granatowicz, MD Cassady Miller, MD Shannon Salerno, MD Ben Schwab, DO
3 Publizr Home