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The Beat Goes On DEER VALLEY HOSPITAL EARNS
Stroke and Cardiovascular Designations John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital has been certified as a Primary Stroke Center by DNV Healthcare, an international certifying agency. The hospital demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve patient outcomes. John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital was accredited as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations in 2007 and by DNV Healthcare in 2011. For more information visit JCL.com/stroke.
TOP 50
The hospital also was named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, an international consulting organization. Truven said this year’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals achieved superior clinical outcomes, provided better care and were more efficient than their peers. Truven’s data showed the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals spent roughly $2,000 less per bypass surgery and about $1,000 less per heart attack patient admitted. If all cardiovascular providers in the U.S. performed at the level of this year’s winning hospitals, more than 8,600 additional lives and $1 billion in health care costs could be saved.
January/February 2014
An Unraveling
HEART
Young mother’s arteries tear after pregnancy, requiring open heart surgery
W
hen you’re 37 years old with a newborn at home, no one thinks you’re having a heart attack. Or that it will become a matter of life and death. Leisha Drone of Phoenix initially thought it was nothing more than severe heartburn. After all, her third child, daughter Amariah, was born Aug. 27 by Caesarian section, without complications. But on Sept. 5, when Leisha talked to her OB/GYN on the phone about her symptoms – chest pain and pain radiating down her arms – she was told to go to the emergency department (ED). Quickly. As Leisha and her husband Willie climbed into the car, her voice had faded to a whisper. But when he headed for the closest hospital, she yelled: “Don’t take me there! “I don’t know why I said that to him,” she said later. “But I’ve lived with divine intervention for years. I’ve learned to listen.” Instead, they went Willie and Leisha Drone, with baby to John C. Amariah, are grateful for the Lincoln efforts of interventional cardiologist Deer Valley Andrew Antiemo, MD (top). Hospital The intra-aortic balloon pump he with topinserted bought Leisha enough level cardiac time for open heart surgery. services. continued on Page 2 >