The December 2012 issue of STYLE/The Villages Edition

These men know Florida by

heart Citrus Cardiology has been caring for Central Florida for over 30 years.

SERVICING LAKE AND SUMTER COUNTIES

WE KNOW FLOR

ORIDA BY HEART

www.citrusmh.com // 352.344.6560

We know Florida by heart One of the most difficult decisions you will ever make is choosing a practice to take care of all your cardiovascular needs. Patients of Citrus Cardiology will be the first to tell you they chose wisely.

The practice features board-certified, fellowship-trained cardiologists who provide patients with the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures and treatment.

That is vitally important, especially when it comes to caring for the body’s most important organ.

Of course, highly qualified cardiologists and cutting-edge technology

are not the only things that make this a superior cardiology practice. Citrus Cardiology offers a personal touch to all its patients, and you will witness this in the office as well as in the hospitals it serves.

Patients are not merely a number.

The entire staff — including physi-

cians, nurses, and technicians—pride themselves in optimizing the healthcare and supporting the medical needs of all patients. They take the necessary time to get to know each patient, thoroughly explain the medical issue a patient is facing, and promptly address all questions and concerns patients have. The staff also spends time with patients to discuss payment arrangements.

Moreover, Citrus Cardiology combines numerous services under one roof, which saves patients time and improves the continuum of care. In other words, patients do not have to drive to numerous facilities for tests such as echocardiography, coumadin, or positron emission tomography (PET). How many practices out there can boast about having a highly trained, experienced team and

cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment procedures under one roof? This is all for the benefit and convenience of the patient.

Here’s the bottom line: cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America. Therefore, it would be a wise decision for you to put your cardiovascular health in the hands of boardcertified physicians who specialize in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of all forms of heart disease.

No doubt, the team at Citrus Cardiology takes your cardiovascular health to heart.

They go above and beyond to ensure their patients experience the quality of life they demand and deserve.

HOSPITAL SERVICES s !ORTIC PERCUTANEOUS VALVE REPLACEMENT REQUIRES SMALLER INCISIONS AND IMPROVES PATIENT OUTCOMES ACCORDING TO THE #LEVELAND #LINIC s "OARD CERTIlED PHYSICIANS OFFER CATHETER ABLATION WHICH IS USED TO TREAT IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT s 4HE PRACTICE HAS AN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST ON STAFF WHO DIAGNOSES AND TREATS ELECTRICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE HEART

Is TAVI right for you?

Not all patients can tolerate openheart surgery. That is why physicians at Citrus Cardiology utilize an innovative procedure known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The procedure can be utilized on patients who are not candidates for open-heart surgery because they are weak or have other diseases, such as aortic stenosis and diabetes, which prohibit it.

During this procedure, a catheter is inserted through a patient’s femoral ar-

CLINIC SERVICES s 4HE PRACTICE S #OUMADIN #LINIC ALLOWS FOR A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO MONITOR THE BLOOD OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING ANTI COAGULATION THERAPY s 4HE USE OF ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS ALLOWS THE #ITRUS #ARDIOLOGY TEAM TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH A PATIENT S PREVIOUS PRIMARY PHYSICIAN s 4HE PRACTICE PROVIDES ONGOING MONITORING OF 0ACEMAKER )MPLANTABLE #ARDIAC $ElBRILLATOR )#$ WHICH PROVIDES OPTIMAL FUNCTION OF THESE DEVICES

tery in the leg. A balloon is then sent through the artery to the chest to open up the aortic valve. Then, a replacement valve is inserted and inflated in place of the diseased valve, pushing it out of the way.

Patients who undergo this procedure require a shorter hospital stay than patients who undergo open-heart surgery.

Studies have proven that the long-term survival of TAVI patients is as good as open-heart surgery patients.

‘‘

I owe my life...

For nearly three years, Erwin Prindle suffered from dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting spells. He had to give up golf because playing 18 holes became too exhausting.

An ultrasound revealed that he had major blockage in his aortic valve. Because of that — and the fact he was age 87 — Erwin was an ideal candidate to undergo a TAVI procedure. A team of physicians from Citrus Cardiology

and Leesburg Regional Medical Center performed the procedure on January 18, 2012. That was a Tuesday, and on Friday, Prindle went home feeling no pain whatsoever.

“When I came home I dressed myself and bathed myself,” he says. “I could not believe how well I felt, especially considering how bad of shape I was in.”

He completed a cardiac rehabilita-

tion program and today feels wonderful. He walks one mile each day, shops at local grocery stores, and faithfully attends church.

“I cannot say enough about the team at Citrus Cardiology,” he says. “I owe my life to them. They are professional, extremely knowledgeable, and take the time to get to know you as a patient and as a person.

FAQs When a heart problem arises, we understand the concerns, questions and fears you face. We have made it an integral part of our mission to provide each patient with clear information and honest compassion, along with the best cardiac care possible. Our group of accomplished physicians and staff of highly-skilled specialists provide care in virtually all aspects of cardiology, working as a team to provide the best cardiac care possible.

Q: I have a cardiologist up North, so do I need one here, too?

A: If you have certain conditions that may need regular monitoring, you should have a cardiologist nearby, wherever you live. We can work directly with your home physicians to request your medical records, and then submit all test results and records back to them, if desired. All you need to do is stop by our office to sign a release, and schedule an appointment.

Q: I don’t want to wait weeks for an appointment. How quickly can I be seen?

happen. You may not get your first choice of physician, but all of our physicians subscribe to the same highest standards of patient care, and you can be assured you will receive the best service around.

Q: I may need multiple appointments in your office. Can I do that in the same visit?

Q: I’m afraid I may need more treatment or testing than I can afford.

What should I do?

A: We are a full-service cardiology practice and have a billing department on-site. The most important thing is to NOT sacrifice your care out of fear or embarrassment over an inability to “make full payment at the time services are rendered.�

A: We have many patients who are unable to arrange their different cardiac appointments for the same day. Depending on your particular case, we may be able to schedule your visits to run consecutively, saving you time and gas. When making an appointment, simply let us know the date and time of your other visits, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your busy schedule.

A: We have same-day appointments available. If you feel you need to be seen right away, simply call our office, and we’ll make it

INVERNESS

CRYSTAL RIVER

LEESBURG

THE VILLAGES

WWW CITRUSCARDIOLOGY ORG

www.citruscardiology.org

INVERNESS

308 W. Highland Blvd, Inverness, FL 34452 PHONE 352.726.8353

CRYSTAL RIVER

760 SE 5th Terrace, Crystal River, FL 34429 PHONE 352.795.4165

LEESBURG

801 E. Dixie Avenue, Suite 7, Leesburg, FL 34748 PHONE 352.315.0627

THE VILLAGES 910 Old Camp Road Building 210

Lake Sumter Professional Plaza,

The Villages, FL 32162 PHONE 352.751.3356

Left to right: M. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, MD, FACC A. Rivero, MD S. Attanti, MD, FACC J.M. Gonzalez, MD, FACC B. Saluck, DO, FACC, FACOI V. Miryala, MD, FACC B. Govindarajan, MD, FACC