Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown Memorial Hospital 100 Madison Avenue Morristown, NJ 07962 Phone: 973-971-5000 Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Overlook Hospital 99 Beauvoir Avenue Summit, New Jersey 07902 Phone: 908-522-2000 For a referral to a Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute cardiologist, call 888-457-5206 or visit at atlantichealth.org.
Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at MORRISTOWN MEMORIAL a n d OV E R LO O K H O S P I TA L S The destination for comprehensive cardiovascular care, where experience and innovation yield exceptional results.
Gagnon at a Glance Largest cardiovascular program in New Jersey Over 120 board-certified cardiologists Newly constructed state-of-the-art facilities with the most advanced technology and 146 private patient rooms Surgical outcomes that are among the best in the nation Overlook Hospital s Gagnon program was the first in New Jersey to perform emergency angioplasty without on-site cardiac surgery Advanced diagnostic capabilities featuring a comprehensive spectrum of noninvasive procedures 24/7 critical care transport services One of the top 50 hospitals nationally in catheter-based interventional procedures Specialized programs, including those focused on cardiac rhythm abnormalities, women s heart health, cardiac surgery rehabilitation and integrative medicine Lauded by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services for emergency care for heart attack patients Overlook Hospital s Gagnon program received full accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from the Society of Chest Pain Centers An extensive, minimally invasive valve program, including a comprehensive, high-volume valve replacement program Recipient of the Magnet Designation for excellence in nursing care a recognition given to less than four percent of hospitals across the nation Accredited by: The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories; The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories; The Commission for Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; CareCore National; American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Society of Chest Pain Centers
World-Class Cardiac Care Heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, kills one out of every four people. Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute is solely devoted to battling this devastating disease with comprehensive care offered at state-of-the-art facilities. At Morristown Memorial Hospital, where the state s largest cardiac surgery program is housed, and at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ, our world class team of cardiac specialists deliver the best cardiovascular care available. Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute is a national leader in the research and treatment of cardiac disease. Our new flagship facility in Morristown, NJ, features state-of-the-art operating and procedure rooms, 146 private patient rooms and the most advanced diagnostic tools. What s in a Name? Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute would not be possible without Neil J. and Lois Gagnon. The Gagnons, benefactors of Morristown Memorial Hospital for many years, not only donate funds to help keep the hospital s facilities on the cutting edge of medicine, but also provide a vision of truly exceptional medical care. As trustees on the Morristown Memorial Health Foundation Board, the Gagnons have also contributed to the Gagnon Children s Emergency Center and the first floor of the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center.
The Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute is dedicated to educating every individual about heart disease detection and prevention. Our cardiovascular experts prepare individual treatment plans for every patient complete with classes, support groups and exercise programs to help patients develop heart-healthy habits and keep themselves on the track to wellness. Our education team brings health screenings, educational programming and wellness workshops to neighborhoods throughout the region at community centers, libraries, schools, and even to your front door. E D U C A T I O N A N D P R E V E N T I O N Heart Success Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in patients over 65, and its survival rate is worse than most forms of cancer. Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute s Heart Success Program teaches patients with progressive heart disease how to respond to their diagnoses to improve their long term health. The program teaches the patient to take ownership of his or her health by offering strategies for improving diet, getting more exercise, taking the proper medications and using day-to-day stress reducing techniques. Community and Corporate Health and Education Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute is dedicated to improving the health of every resident of the communities it serves. Providing people with the information to make the right health care decisions is the first and often the most effective step in enabling them to live healthier lives. Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute staff regularly present educational programs, run support groups and provide health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and weight in convenient public venues such as schools and community centers, often free of charge. For more information, call 800-247-9580 or visit atlantichealth.org Women s Heart Awareness Program Heart disease affects women of all ages. It is the leading cause of death for women 65 and older; the second leading cause of death for women 45 to 64; and the third leading cause of death for women 25 to 44. Yet, most women do not know the heart disease symptoms unique to them. In fact, 86 percent of the female population served by Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute is at risk for a first heart attack, but only 26 percent know it. The Women s Heart Program is an innovative initiative developed in partnership with the American Red Cross to educate women about heart disease through screenings and analysis, information and education. More than 3,000 women have learned about the warning signs and risk factors for heart disease through the Women s Heart Awareness Program and associated community events. I thought Home is Where the Heart Is would be a fun way to get good, valid information for my friends and me. The concept lends itself to a comfortable dialogue, and I couldn t have asked for a better experience. Davida Isaacson Home is Where the Heart is Women can help one another take better care of their bodies by hosting Home Is Where the Heart Is parties during which staff from Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute s Community Health Education Department (via the Healthy Avenues van) provide screenings, education and lifestyle consultations for 10 to 15 women at a time. For more information or to host a party in your home, call 866-887-8780.
School of Cardiovascular Technology Early diagnosis and prevention are key to reducing the number of deaths related to cardiovascular disease. Our School of Cardiovascular Technology trains cardiovascular technologists to perform critical diagnostic tests. Founded in 1976, this program is the only one in the state that offers three clinical tracks. Graduates are eligible to take the national registry exams given by Cardiovascular Credentialing International or the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. To apply for the program, call 973-971-5096. Our students can sit for the registry immediately after graduation with no additional clinical hours at most other schools, graduates have to do a year or two of on-the-job training. Gail Landau student coordinator for the School of Cardiovascular Technology Live From the Cardiac Classroom Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute and Liberty Science Center are proud to present Live From the Cardiac Classroom, a program that enables high school students to view open heart surgery performed by our cardiac surgeons in real time via video teleconferencing. Underwritten by Johnson & Johnson and Verizon, Live From the Cardiac Classroom introduces young people to medical careers and communicates the importance of healthy lifestyle choices. The recipient of several awards including the Worldfest Film Festival Award, the American Association of Museums Muse Award, and the U.S. International Film and Video Festival certificate for creative excellence Live From the Cardiac Classroom has expanded to Scotland, where a high school class in West Lothian recently viewed a live broadcast from Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute s operating room. Since the award-winning educational program was launched in 1998, more than 27,600 students have interacted with surgeons and other members of the operating room team as they perform heart surgery. Having the technology to share this kind of sophisticated surgical procedure with kids in middle school and high school has had a profound impact on the students appetite for science. William Tansey, MD attending cardiologist at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute and vice chair, Board of Trustees, Liberty Science Center
D I A G N O S I S A N D T R E A T M E N T Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Using the most advanced imaging tools available, our cardiac care physicians can pinpoint problems in just seconds and prescribe early, effective treatment. Our technology includes cardiac CT angiography, tranesophogeal echocardiography, cardiac MRI, intracardiac ultrasound, and noninvasive arterial venous and abdominal vascular testing. Interventional Cardiology At Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute, our surgeons employ sophisticated, innovative diagnostic and treatment solutions to perform more than 4,000 cardiac catherizations every year. Other state-of-the-art invasive diagnostic and interventional procedures include stenting, atherectomy, rotablation and angiojet. Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute is the destination for complex procedures that require advanced technology and sophisticated clinical capabilities. Cardiac Arrhythmia Program Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute employs a world-renowned team of electrophysiologists to care for patients with heart rhythm abnormalities. State-of-the-art procedures, including catheter ablation, implantable cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers, enable electrophysiologists to diagnose and address rhythm disorders. A Heartfelt John Seville celebrated Father s Day 2008 at home thanks to the quick thinking of his wife Connie, and the rapid response of Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute s surgical team. The 41-year-old Sparta, NJ, police officer had collapsed, complaining of nausea and abdominal pain and was treated at a small, local hospital. Still very ill, he was transported the next day to Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute where cardiologists diagnosed a rare heart disorder aortic dissection, the same disease that ended actor John Ritter s life in 2003. It s an extremely dangerous condition, says Gagnon surgeon James Slater, MD, who likens it to driving north in the southbound lane of a super highway. Dr. Slater, who successfully replaced the upper aorta of John s heart, as well as part of a valve during emergency surgery, explains that only a dozen of the more than 1,000 heart surgeries performed each year at Gagnon are aortic dissections. Inspired by the birth of his son Levi just three days after surgery and encouraged by the supportive team of physicians and nurses who cared for him at Gagnon Homecoming Cardiovascular Institute, Seville s condition improved in record time. He returned home to his family in less than three months, just in time for Father s Day. A compete recovery will take more time but, says Connie, for him to even be here is a miracle. He s doing great. He s walking on his own and his cognitive function is 100%. In terms of his recovery, he s six months ahead of where the doctors said he would be. It s going to be a heck of a Father s Day! Thank you, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute. Connie Seville, wife of Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute patient John Seville who returned home just 11 weeks after emergency open heart surgery
Cardiac Surgery More than 24,000 patients have chosen Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute, home of the largest cardiac surgery program in New Jersey, for cardiac surgery since 1988. Robotic surgery was introduced in 2005, when Neil Gagnon personally purchased the hospital s first state-of-the-art robotic surgical system. Our minimally invasive program, valve program and robotic capabilities enable cardiac surgeons to operate with extraordinary precision using a small incision, resulting in less pain and scarring, fewer infections and a quicker recovery. We expanded our program by educating physicians around the world with new valve techniques. Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute strives to lead in teaching. Our heart replacement surgery, including LVAD, allows people with only the left side of their heart to enjoy a full life. Cardiac Rehabilitation Prior to surgery Rehabilitation begins when a patient is admitted to the hospital, with educational classes and progressive therapeutic exercise programs monitored by heart specialists. Patients with myocardial infarction, angina, or congestive heart failure also work directly with a cardiac rehabilitation specialist prior to surgery to accelerate their recovery. Post surgery Experts at the Cardiac Health Center guide each patient through a gradual strength building routine nd educate both patient and family about healthy heart practices such as risk factor modification, prescriptions and healthy diets. Patients who have had a heart attack, coronary bypass surgery, transplant, angioplasty, intracoronary stent placement or ongoing stable angina enroll in a supervised 12-week exercise program at the hospital. New exercise machines and monitoring equipment and luxurious locker room facilities help make rehabilitation as comfortable as possible. The cardiac team at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute is used to working fast, especially with heart attack patients. By having a system in place, the technology available and a team that works well together, Christine and other patients have made full recoveries. Kristen degrandpre, RN, clinical nurse specialist of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute During the final phase of rehabilitation, staff and patients create comprehensive heart health programs that include independent exercise and regular check-ups. Patients can also take advantage of educational lectures, stress management lectures, nutritional assessments and counseling, and healthy cooking classes. Every Second M A T T E R S For Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute patient Christine Newport, a 41-year old mother of three, timing was everything. As she pulled into the parking lot of her daughters school in January of 2008, Christine experienced what felt like flu symptoms but was in fact a heart attack. Upon arrival at Overlook Hospital s Emergency Department, she went into full cardiac arrest. It took three shocks from a defibrillator to jumpstart Christine's heart. She then underwent a stent procedure to keep her arteries open, performed by interventional cardiologist Barry M. Cohen, MD, in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Overlook Hospital. During the procedure, Christine lost oxygen for several minutes from the cardiac arrest and because seizures caused her to bite down on her respiratory tube. The heart can survive loss of oxygen for 20 minutes; the brain can survive loss of oxygen for just four minutes. For Christine, timing and technology meant survival. Teams at Overlook and Morristown Memorial hospitals worked quickly to transport Christine to Morristown Memorial, where the cardiac critical care team immediately used the Arctic Sun cold suit." This new technology, used by only 15 percent of the nation's heart hospitals, induces hypothermia, slowing the body's biochemical processes considerably. Newport s body temperature was stabilized at around 91 degrees for 24 hours. Though researchers aren t sure exactly why induced hypothermia minimizes loss of brain function following cardiac arrest, numerous medical studies have proved its efficacy. It worked for Christine: one week after her emergency surgery, she was well enough to go home.
Cardiac Integrative Medicine Program Experts at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute recognize that the emotional and spiritual health of every patient plays an important role in recovery from heart disease. Integrative medicine is an approach to treatment that includes conventional therapies such as medication or surgical interventions, as well as complementary therapies and hands-on healing techniques like Jin Shin Jyutsu, Reiki, massage therapy, guided imagery therapy with music, and yoga. Integrative medicine specialists work with patients before and after surgery to develop and refine treatment plans that address each patient s body, mind, heart and spirit. Sometimes they work during surgery too: it is not uncommon for patients to be accompanied in the operating room to ease their worries and make them feel less alone. Following discharge from the hospital, patients and their families are welcome to visit the Cardiac Health Center for continued integrative services, heart-healthy lifestyle coaching and smoking cessation programs. The Human Side of Healing Victor Fabry expected excellent care when his cardiologist referred him for surgery to repair his arteries to John M. Brown, MD, thoracic surgeon and vice chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute. What Victor didn t expect was company in the operating room. Emilie Rowan, a licensed clinical social worker who coordinates Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute's Cardiac Integrative Medicine Program, asked Victor if she could accompany him into surgery. I found her offer very comforting and was grateful to have her in the operating room and in my hospital room afterward, Victor says. We re present during surgery, after surgery and throughout the recovery process. We strive to provide comfort with our presence and to assist patients in becoming proactive in their own health care. Emilie Rowan, LCSW, coordinator, Cardiac Integrative Medicine Program, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute At Emilie s suggestion, Victor participated in post-surgery Jin Shin Jyutsu sessions. This hands-on healing technique helps relieve pain and stress, and is one of many different strategies used by the Cardiac Integrative Medicine Program to help patients recover and heal. Our patients expect the highest quality of care at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute and we do our part to meet those expectations with innovative, cutting-edge programs like these, says Dr. Brown. Victor now volunteers at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute, using his own experiences to give hope and comfort to others who face cardiac surgery.
ON THE FOREFRONT Cardiovascular Research Participation in dozens of national and international studies each year enhances Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute clinicians familiarity with promising advancements in electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery and clinical cardiology. Every cardiac medical team has extensive experience with new, highly effective remedies prior to their full introduction into the marketplace. New treatment options are prescribed only after rigorous testing, and patients are always closely monitored. Clinical and nurse practitioner teams devoted solely to the care of patients in clinical trials track their progress and deliver comprehensive patient education programs. Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute s physicians regularly share their clinical results with national and international leaders in cardiology, helping to train the next generation of cardiac experts and underscoring our reputation as a highly respected center for cardiovascular research. Vascular Center Our new vascular center is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral artery disease. Our team of vascular surgeons and vascular medicine specialists is focused on treating this under diagnosed condition. By employing the most advanced techniques and procedures, Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute physicians literally get people back on their feet. On a Good Note Every day, cardiac surgery patients at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute have front-row seats to a very exclusive performance: soothing, celestial music played by a professional symphony harpist. Alix Weisz, a harpist from Chester, NJ, spends two hours a day in the Cardiac Post-Anesthesia Care Unit playing her harp to help patients recover from surgery. Studies show that music can have a soothing and restorative effect on patients after surgery. What s more, harp music in particular helps to stabilize irregular heartbeats. Patients say that Weisz s performances enable them to relax and rest rather than worry about their conditions or the success of their surgeries. When she is playing you really don t notice the hustle and bustle, explains one patient who recently had a valve replacement. I felt that if I could be feeling this calm and relaxed this soon after surgery, things are only going to get better.
Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute houses a full spectrum of cardiac and vascular services, provided by clinicians recognized as leaders in their fields. Our innovation, outcomes and research position Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute as the destination for cardiovascular services in the northeast. Frank W. Smart, MD Lloyd & Dorothy Huck Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine Chief of Cardiology Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute Recognizing the signs and symptoms If you or a loved one experiences the following signs, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK Chest pain, usually radiating toward the left shoulder and arm. The arm may be tingling or numb. Nausea, vomiting Cold sweats, shortness of breath and lightheadedness Feeling of indigestion Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute is the culmination of decades of work to deliver extraordinary care to this region. Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute heralds a new era of advancing services and treatments that impact the patients and families who recognize Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute as the pinnacle of cardiovascular care. Grant Van S. Parr, MD Physician-in-Chief Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute Dizziness, weakness, and fainting Abdominal pain SIGNS OF A STROKE Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden, severe headache with no known cause For more information about the services and programs at Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute or for a referral to a Gagnon cardiologist, call the Atlantic Health physician referral service at 888-457-5206 or visit us at atlantichealth.org.