Congestive Heart Failure Clinic Opens In Cartersville

CARTERSVILLE, GA — Cartersville Medical Center recently opened a Congestive Heart Failure Clinic to provide care and education for patients suffering from this chronic disease. The clinic will help patients better understand congestive heart failure and how they can maximize their quality of life.

Clinical evaluation and support will be given by Digant Bhatt, MD, FACC, Harbin Clinic cardiologist on staff at Cartersville Medical Center.

Congestive heart failure is the phrase used to describe fluid-build up in the extremities, lungs or other organs caused by heart failure, which weakens the organ's ability to pump blood. This causes blood to move through the body at a slower rate, which increases the pressure inside the heart and inhibits its ability to provide oxygen and nutrients to other parts of the body.

“Although congestive heart failure is a chronic condition, our goal is to help our patients live well and improve the quality of their lives,” said Leah Hite, director, cardiovascular services.

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Patients who are referred to the clinic have active treatment plans, which includes consistent follow-up through nursing assessments, blood work, monitoring vital signs and fluid retention management. Patients learn how to control the condition through medication compliance, dietary changes, as needed, lifestyle changes, regular physician follow-up appointments and weekly lab work.

Since opening the clinic in early September, there have been over 200 visits to the new clinic. Hite believes the numbers will continue to increase due to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Georgia.

“According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, 1 out of every 3 deaths is caused by cardiovascular disease in Georgia and a majority of these deaths are premature and preventable,” said Hite. “The key to a patient’s success will be their individual participation in the program. The clinic also allows patients to stay within their own community for all of their healthcare needs.”

For more information about the Congestive Heart Failure Clinic at Cartersville Medical Center, call 770-276-7800 or visit its website.

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