Heart Failure Care
Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Different from a heart attack, heart failure is a chronic, long-term condition that prevents the heart from functioning effectively.
Northwest Health - Porter's Center for Cardiovascular Medicine has been received a heart failure accreditation from The Joint Commission. This accreditation means we meet the highest standards in heart failure care — from emergency and inpatient care to follow up after discharge. To earn accreditation, the hospital met stringent criteria established by The Joint Commission and underwent a rigorous on-site evaluation by accreditation review specialists. Accreditation assures a facility assists heart failure patients in managing their disease and educates the greater community about heart failure and how to prevent it.
Heart care specialists utilize advanced diagnostic technology to determine the cause and extent of heart failure. Doctors and nurses who specialize in heart failure provide a management program that offers:
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Medical management - Medications are used to lower blood pressure, eliminate excess water, prevent clotting, slow heart rate or alter hormones that affect the heart. Cardiologists can develop a program that combines medication and lifestyle changes to effectively manage heart failure.
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Risk-factor management - Lifestyle changes such as losing weight and eating more healthfully, controlling blood pressure, abstaining from alcohol and smoking, and getting enough rest can help improve heart health and prevent further damage.
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Minimally invasive cardiac catheterization techniques - Outpatient procedures such as angioplasty and stent placement are used to open blocked arteries.
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Surgery - Experienced cardiac surgeons utilize advanced technology to deliver heart failure treatment, including implantable devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Surgeons use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.
Award Winning Care
The Heart Failure Center has received recognition for outstanding care, including:
- Get with the Guidelines® - Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, American Heart Association - a recognition that signifies the completion of an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients with at least 85 percent compliance for at least 12 months to core standard levels of care, as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients.
For questions about the heart failure program, please call (219) 983-8533 to speak with the heart failure coordinator.