Archives > Allen American > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Texas Health Allen gets in SHAPE for early heart disease detection
From staff reports
The first sign that something is wrong can often be fatal when it comes to matters of the heart. Nearly 75 percent of patients hospitalized with a heart attack had cholesterol levels that indicated they were not at high risk for a cardiovascular event, according to a January 2009 study published in the American Heart Journal.
While most cardiovascular clinics focus on preventing a second heart attack, Texas Health Craig Ranch Outpatient Center has made a commitment to focusing on preventing a heart attack before it happens by earning certification as a SHAPE/Heart Health Center of Excellence.
“We are committed to saving the lives of the people we serve in Collin County through the early detection of heart disease,” said Sheila McKinney, president of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen — Texas Health Craig Ranch’s parent facility. “SHAPE certification is an important step in our goal of becoming a leader in early detection and prevention of coronary artery disease in North Texas.”
“This represents our desire to hold ourselves to a high standard and maintain that high level of quality care,” said Dr. Clyde Sullivan, a cardiologist on the medical staff at Texas Health Allen. “Through SHAPE we are held accountable to a national standard for how we are using the technology at our disposal. The ultimate goal is to prevent a heart attack before our patients ever have to experience one.”
In addition to their extensive background and experience in cardiac care, Dr. Sullivan and the staff at Texas Health Craig Ranch were given in-depth training on the appropriate use of screening technology in order to receive SHAPE/Heart Health Center of Excellence certification.
Texas Health Craig Ranch offers non-invasive coronary calcium scoring which utilizes computed tomography (CT scanning) to obtain images of the heart and detect arterial blockage. The scan searches for specks of calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries. Calcifications are an early sign of heart disease. After the scan, a calcium (or Agatston) score is given, reflecting the amount of calcium found in the arteries.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen is a 62-bed acute-care hospital serving the northern Collin County area since 2000. The hospital’s services include women’s services, a Level II neonatal intensive care unit, orthopedics, pediatrics, wound care and sleep medicine. Texas Health Allen, an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, has more than 425 physicians on its medical staff practicing in more than 25 specialties. For information, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit TexasHealth.org/Allen.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
