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URMC » Quality » Ratings » Heart Failure

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• Commitment to Quality
• Quality Measures
  • Heart Attack
  • Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)
  • Coronary Bypass Surgery (CABG)
  • Heart Failure
    • Overview
    • Left ventricular function assessment
    • Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker at discharge
    • Device therapy
  • Pneumonia
  • Robotic Prostatectomy
  • Stroke
• Glossary of Terms

Quality Measures for Heart Failure

With the region’s only heart failure specialists, Strong offers the latest treatments for this disease in which a heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Strong’s heart failure experts keep abreast of all available treatments, including new drugs and advanced devices such as the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD). Our doctors also conduct research aimed at improving heart failure treatment.

Strong is currently part of a national study that looks at how exercise may improve and extend patients’ lives. Our facilities include one of the nation’s largest and most complete heart fitness centers, intended for all patients with heart disease.

For the most serious cases of heart failure, Strong often relies on the VAD, an artificial heart pump that assists the heart and can dramatically improve the lives of heart failure patients. Originally, the VAD was used for patients awaiting heart transplants. A newer, smaller version now helps patients who are not candidates for heart transplants. Strong is the only center in the region with VADs, and was recently named the first Ventricular Assist Device Center of Excellence by Abiomed.

In many cases of serious heart failure, the best option for the patient is to receive a heart transplant. Strong is the only center in Upstate New York that provides heart transplants. We work with patients throughout New York State and northern Pennsylvania, providing hope and expertise to families, and giving our patients another chance at life.

Strong provides exceptional outcomes for heart transplant patients. The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients reports transplant results with three statistics: The percentage of patients who would be expected to survive (for one and three years), the percentage who actually survived, and the national average of patients who survived. For the most recent 3-year period, the Scientific Registry calculated our expected survival rate to be 75.48%. In addition, our actual survival rate was much higher, at 88.24%. We were also significantly higher than the national average, which was 79.32%.

Developing Better Ways to Care for Patients

For patients living with heart failure and other health conditions, blood draws and diagnostic tests are commonplace in order to evaluate their condition. Often, though, chemical or physiologic changes silently cause damage that is not detected until much later. Under development by a cardiologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center is a tiny device that could be implanted in a person to monitor and detect abnormalities, and then relay data to physicians, or provide therapy on the spot, in real time. When implanted, this biosensor chip can detect physiologic and chemical changes with faster, improved accuracy. These more accurate results, retrieved without invasive testing, will allow for better and timely response and, the hope is, a healthier patient. Read more...