More@Nazareth - Winter 2023

@Nazareth More

Elevating cardiovascular care for our community

When you have a problem with your heart, you want to be treated at a facility that offers advanced heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) procedures and some of the region’s best doctors. You’ll find all of that—and more—at Nazareth Hospital.

Here are four recent developments at Nazareth that highlight our commitment to outstanding cardiovascular care:

1 We’ve been honored for excellence. Nazareth has earned a Service Line of Excellence designation from Corazon, Inc., for three key cardiovascular programs. Ours is the first hospital in the Philadelphia region to earn this triple honor. It shows that Nazareth provides care that meets high national standards for:

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IN THIS ISSUE

3 IS HIFU RIGHT FOR YOU?

High-intensity ultrasound may be an option for treating prostate cancer

4 ACHIEVE YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS

Find out how bariatric surgery can help you reach a healthy weight

ARE YOU AT RISK FOR HEART DISEASE?

Scan the QR code to take our quiz. Call 888.572.0425 to schedule an appointment.

Elevating cardiovascular care for our community

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• Emergency heart attack treatments. People having a heart attack are quickly taken from the Emergency Department to Nazareth’s special cardiac catheterization lab for angioplasty treatment to open blocked arteries and restore lifesaving blood flow to the heart.

• Chest pain treatments. Nazareth is a nationally accredited chest pain center, which means it has the expertise to evaluate and treat patients who arrive with chest pain that could be a heart attack.

• Electrophysiology treatments. This program focuses on correcting arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and other problems involving the electrical system in the heart.

2High-tech hybrid OR opens this winter. This “hybrid” facility will allow patients to receive a catheter-based treatment or a vascular surgery in the same room, even during the same procedure. One

example is a treatment that restores blood flow in blocked arteries in the legs. The room is equipped with advanced imaging tools, including a heart-mapping system.

3 Patients have easier access to heart surgeries. Nazareth does not perform open-heart surgeries at this time. But people who need the procedure will have it done at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne (part of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, and a leader in heart and vascular care). This also allows them to see their doctor close to home, at Nazareth, for their pre- and post-surgery care. They can also get much of their pre-surgery testing done at Nazareth.

“The greatest advantage is continuity of care,” says Deon Vigilance, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Nazareth and St. Mary. “The surgeon who sees you before your operation can see you after your surgery at a location that is familiar to you.”

4 Fellowship program receives overwhelming response.

Nazareth is home to a fellowship program that trains the next wave of heart doctors.

Cardiovascular fellowships are very competitive, Sunil Dhar, MD, says. He’s the medical director of the fellowship program.

“We started with two fellowships in July,” Dr. Dhar says. “We have started the application process for next year, and we’ve already had 800 applications for two spots.”

Sunil Dhar, MD

Deon Vigilance, MD

Treating prostate cancer with high-intensity ultrasound

THE HIFU PROCEDURE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MAJOR SURGERY AND RADIATION

For years, men with localized prostate cancer often had two main treatment choices besides active surveillance: radiation therapy or surgery. Both are beneficial options, but they can cause side effects. Now there’s another choice at Nazareth Hospital that may help reduce those risks.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) uses soundwave energy to destroy cancer cells. This may allow some men to avoid a major operation (radical prostatectomy) or radiation treatments.

“While surgery and radiation have a more proven history of treating prostate cancer, HIFU has a much lower risk of sexual dysfunction and virtually no risk of incontinence,” says Francis Schanne, MD, a urologist at Nazareth Hospital.

Some men are so fearful of these potential side effects that they may avoid treatment altogether.

“HIFU is a great alternative for those patients,” Dr. Schanne says.

Who is a candidate for HIFU?

To be eligible for HIFU, a man must have prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate. And his prostate must not be very large.

HIFU has lower risks than surgery and radiation, but it isn’t risk-free. Men can still have erectile dysfunction and urinary problems after HIFU. And while HIFU has been around for about a decade, it is less proven than surgery

or radiation as a prostate cancer treatment.

If you are considering HIFU, you and your doctor will discuss its potential benefits and risks.

What to expect

HIFU is performed under general anesthesia. The doctor inserts an ultrasound probe into the rectum to map out the treatment area on a display screen. Next, much stronger ultrasound energy is focused on small areas of prostate tissue. This precise energy destroys the cancer cells by heating them.

After the procedure, you will need a catheter for a few days so you can urinate. You can resume your usual activities within two weeks.

“There’s usually not much pain,” Dr. Schanne says. About 10% to 20% of men may have a blockage of the urethra, or difficulty voiding, which may require a second treatment with medications or surgery.

Men will have follow-up PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood tests to help monitor the success of their HIFU treatment.

Working together to end gun violence

Ask your family and friends if there’s an unlocked gun in the house

Gun violence is a public health and safety crisis, and kids are especially at risk. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, gun violence accounted for 47% of all violence-related deaths among kids ages 1 to 19. In real numbers, that’s 2,801 children who died as a result of gun violence. That’s why Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic has joined

a coalition of health systems in the tri-state area committed to spreading awareness about the gun violence epidemic in our communities. Together we can help end gun violence and keep our communities, and especially our kids, safe and healthy. Learn more about the coalition and its mission at hospitalsunited.com

Get healthier with weight-loss surgery

LEARN THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BARIATRIC SURGERY AND WHY NAZARETH IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR SURGERY

Do you have a lot of weight to lose? Have you struggled to take it off with diet and exercise? Bariatric surgery may be an option that can change your life—for the better. Most important, it can improve your physical and mental health. It may help you:

Control an existing health condition. High blood pressure, sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes are among the health problems that will improve with bariatric surgery. As a result, some people can stop taking their medicines. These conditions may even go into remission or completely resolve, says Abhiman Cheeyandira, MD, bariatric surgeon at Nazareth Hospital.

Cheeyandira, MD

Am I a candidate for bariatric surgery?

If you’ve struggled repeatedly to lose weight—only to regain it—and you’re heavier than you’ve ever been, you may be wondering: Is bariatric surgery an option for me?

You may be a candidate if you’re an adult who meets one of these three criteria: You have at least 100 pounds to lose.

You have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more.

You have a BMI of 35 or higher along with one or more serious, obesityrelated health problems— such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea or severe joint pain.

loss surgery include high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart failure, and fatty liver disease.

Be more active with less joint pain. Weight loss takes stress off joints harmed by arthritis.

Improve your fertility if you have PCOS. The hormone disorder polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can make it hard to get pregnant. It may be easier for women with PCOS who are overweight to become pregnant after bariatric surgery.

Add years to your life. “Studies have shown that people who lose weight with bariatric surgery live longer,” Dr. Cheeyandira says. “And their quality of life is better.”

Feel emotionally better. Many people find that their mood

WEIGH YOUR OPTIONS

Other health problems that may improve with weight-

improves after they have weightloss surgery. They tend to be happier too. “Overall, they feel better,” says Dr. Cheeyandira.

Why choose Nazareth for bariatric surgery

In 2021, Nazareth Hospital became accredited as a comprehensive center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). That means bariatric care at Nazareth meets the highest standards for safety and quality of care. With MBSAQIP accreditation, you can be confident that Nazareth offers the gold standard of bariatric care, Dr. Cheeyandira says.

Call 888.403.0418 to schedule an appointment. Scan the QR code to learn more about bariatric surgery at Nazareth Hospital.

Abhiman

Get to know these providers

Thanks to our talented health care providers, we can give our community the best medical care possible, close to home. Here, we introduce you to three of the many great providers at Nazareth Hospital.

Deon Vigilance, MD

Cardiothoracic surgeon

Medical training: Dr. Vigilance received his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. He completed a residency at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and a fellowship at University of Maryland Medical Center.

Patient-care philosophy: Dr. Vigilance partners with his patients in their own care. He empowers them by giving them the knowledge to make informed decisions. He also believes in enhancing access to care through health care equity.

Fun fact: Dr. Vigilance’s many personal interests include traveling with his family, coaching his children’s sports teams and playing golf.

Office location: Nazareth Cardiology, 2630 Holme Ave., Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19152.

Daniel J. Vile, DO Interventional cardiologist

Medical training: Dr. Vile received his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an internship, followed by a residency, at Delaware Valley Medical Center and a fellowship at Deborah Heart and Lung Center.

Patient-care philosophy: Dr. Vile believes in listening to patients and tailoring treatments based on their individual needs. He takes the time to get to know his patients, including subtle nuances, to provide the best possible outcomes and overall better patient satisfaction.

Fun fact: Dr. Vile loves spending time with his family, being outdoors, golfing, and rooting for the Eagles and Phillies.

Office location: Nazareth Cardiology, 8012 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19136.

Helen J. Yoo Bowne, MD

Otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor, or ENT)

Medical training: Dr. Yoo Bowne earned her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, followed by a residency at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and a head and neck fellowship at Beth Israel Medical Center, now Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Patient-care philosophy: Dr. Yoo Bowne believes in treating her patients the way she would want to be treated—with respect and patient-centered care.

Fun fact: She plays the piano. As a child, she dreamt of being a musician like her father, who was an opera singer.

Office location: Nazareth ENT Associates, 2701 Holme Ave., Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 19152.

Call 888.558.1998

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT:

Call 888.472.9784

Find more doctors, classes, events and health tips: trinityhealthma.org/nazareth

New patient portal makes health care easier

If you’re a patient at Nazareth Hospital or a Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Medical Group clinic, you can now access a new online patient portal, called MyChart, that helps you take charge of your health care. Here, Amy Gravelle, regional director of Integration for Trinity Mid-Atlantic Medical groups, answers key questions about MyChart.

Q What is MyChart, and what can you do with it?

Answer: MyChart is a secure online portal that puts all of your health information in the palm of your hand or on your computer screen so that it’s accessible when you need it. In MyChart, you can schedule an appointment, message your provider with a nonemergent question or update your medical history. Additionally, you can request medication refills, view test results, review after-visit or discharge notes, see a cost estimate, and pay co-pays or bills.

Q Why did the hospital switch to MyChart for the new patient portal?

Answer: MyChart is part of our new Epic electronic medical record system. This new platform will allow patients to have one connected medical chart across all the different facilities where we provide care. For instance, if you are seen in the emergency room, the providers will be able to see all your records from your Trinity Health doctor’s office. With this streamlined, single chart, providers on your care team can communicate more effectively and provide the best possible care.

Q How do you sign up?

Answer: You can be instantly signed up at any appointment at a Trinity Health facility, use an activation link from your bill or after-visit summary, or activate online here: trinityhealthma.org/mychart