Special to Hawaii 24/7 by Elena Cabatu

Since establishing Hilo Medical Center’s Cardio-Vascular Services in 2007, the hospital has been working to achieve its goal of providing cardio-vascular care to meet the needs of our community.

Last month, Hilo Medical Center transitioned to the latest version of the Philips Telemetry System to monitor ambulatory cardiac in-patients. This system includes transmitters or tele-monitoring boxes, worn by the patient, that monitor and send the patient’s heart rate and rhythm to an information center housed at the Intensive Care Unit’s nursing station.

Linda Pacyau

If the system detects that a patient’s condition worsens, an alarm signals the nursing staff to respond. The upgraded system includes a total of 32 transmitters, providing broader coverage for cardiac patients in the hospital in the Cardio-Vascular, Imaging, Medical and Laulima (Surgical) Units.

“We are constantly looking for opportunities to improve patient care,” said Dan Brinkman, Regional Chief Nurse Executive. “This new system allows us to provide better care to everyone in need of tele-monitoring. I thank all involved in making the transition a reality.”

“We are proud to offer cardiac and vascular services right here in Hilo,” said Howard N. Ainsley, East Hawaii Regional CEO of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. “Our goal is to provide a high level of local care for our local community.”

Last year, Hilo Medical Center incorporated Nurse Practitioner Linda Pacyau, FPN, APRN-RX, to partner with Dr. William Sammond in the Heart Center at Hilo Medical Center. Efforts continue to actively recruit for an additional cardiologist.

Hilo Medical Center’s Cardio-Vascular Services:

* Started organizing the Cardio-Vascular Service Line in fall 2007.

* Named Arthur Sampaga, Jr. as the Director of Cardiovascular Services.

* Welcomed Invasive Cardiologist Dr. William Sammond in October 2007.

* Established the Heart Center at Hilo Medical Center in winter 2007.

* Designated space on the third floor to create the Cardio-Vascular Unit, where patients with heart and vascular needs cared for in a central location by nurses experienced in providing cardiac care.

* Upgraded existing angiography equipment in 2008 to allow for diagnostic cardiac catheterizations, a procedure that allows Cardiologist Dr. William Sammond to look in main arteries for blockages and heart chambers for any damage.

* Provided advanced training in 2008 in preparation for Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization procedure for Dr. William Sammond, angiography nurses and technicians at Queens Medical Center.

* Performed first Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization on October 22, 2008
Named Vascular Surgeon Dr. Raymond Lee as the medical director for Cardiac and Vascular Services.

Key Statistics as of March 16, 2010:

* Performed 90 Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterizations since HMC first started in October 22, 2008 or 49 in FY 09 and 41 FY 10.

* Has cared for an average of 120 patients per month in the CVU since HMC first established the space in winter 2008.

* Has had 4,033 patient visits for Dr. Sammond and 291 patient visits for Nurse Practitioner Linda Pacyau at the Heart Center at Hilo Medical Center since they started seeing patients in winter 2007 and winter 2009, respectively.

* Has seen an average of around 100 patients per month with cardiac issues in both FY 09 and FY of seen at the Emergency Department.

— Find out more:
www.hmc.hhsc.org/