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Living a Quality Life with Heart Failure
McLaren Greater Lansing is one of few in the region that offers: an education class, newsletter, support group and Heart Failure Center. This supportive network of services can empower heart failure patients to lead lives with meaning and quality.
The education class covers winning strategies for living with heart failure. Among the topics: Lifestyle adjustments, counseling on reducing sodium and fluids, exercise, smoking cessation, and recognizing and overcoming barriers to help your heart adjust to a slower pace. More than 98 patients completed the Heart Failure Center Education Program in 2007.
"As needed," says Sylvia Hedin, Manager, "we monitor lab values with medical adjustments to correct abnormal lab values. Our patients often have co-morbidities, like diabetes, and it's important to reinforce no more than eight cups of fluid each day, including meals. One of the hardest things patients must give up is sodium. Heart failure patients are restricted to no more than 2,000 mg. of sodium per day. Patients are surprised to learn that just one teaspoon of salt contains 2,200 mg. of salt.
Classes are held every other Monday, from 1-2:30 p.m., led by Sylvia Hedin, R.N. Participants meet in the McLaren Greater Lansing Orthopedic Hospital admitting lobby. Pre-registration is requested, but not required. This FREE service is open to all patients, families and friends. Call (517) 975-2220 for specific dates.
A supportive newsletter is mailed every other month. Information on heart failure includes: a low sodium recipe, question and answer column, heart failure websites, books and an educational article. Call (517) 975-2220 if you would like to receive this free newsletter.
The Support Group meets every other month on the first Wednesday of: February, April, June, August, October, and December from 6-7:30 p.m. The meetings are held in Suite 30 of the Professional Building, 405 W. Greenlawn. Guest speakers share their expertise on topics of heart failure. This free service is informal. Call (517) 975-2220 for directions or questions.
McLaren Greater Lansing's Heart Failure Center has been operating since 1998. The Heart Failure Center is under the Medical Direction of cardiologist, Michael James, D.O. Patients with unstable heart failure may receive IV diuretics, monitoring of labs, up-titration of medications, and intensive heart failure education. The center is located on the Orthopedic Hospital Campus, 2727 S. Pennsylvania. Ste. 1014.
Physician referral is needed. Call (517) 975-2220 to make a patient referral.
"The Center's most important goal is," says Hedin, "is to provide sufficient knowledge about heart failure, so patients can make wise decisions at home and stay out of the hospital."
The Infusion Center
Staffed by registered nurses and an advance practice nurse, infusion serves are offered for the following:
Venous Access Device (VAD) Care: infusaports, PICCs, Hickman and Groshong
Hydration therapy
Antibiotic Therapy
Steroid therapy
Subcutaneous injections
Iron therapy
Blood product administration
Central venous line access and management
Enzyme therapies*
Remicade therapy*
Immunoglobulin (IVIG)*
Outpatient blood draw from VAD ports
(* Pre-authorization for these services may be necessary).
Services not offered:
Chemotherapeutic therapy
Parental nutrition
Conscious sedation
Intravenous pain management
All therapies are initiated and continued by physician order, and are provided under the direction and supervision of the ordering physician. Medical Director Michael James, D.O., provides program supervision.
Physician Referrals: Call Infusion Services at (517) 975-2220 with referral information - patient's name, birth date, diagnosis, treatment, and VAD, if applicable. First time patient referrals also require demographic and insurance information.
The Infusion Center is located just adjacent to the Heart Failure Center.
McLaren Greater Lansing Heart Failure/Infusion Center
2727 S. Pennsylvania, Suite W 1014
Lansing, MI 48910
(517) 975-2220 |