A New Care Model to Prevent Heart Attack, Stroke and Diabetes

This quarterly series examines new paradigms in preventive cardiology to empower our community and mitigate the development of cardiovascular disease and subsequent complications.

Despite advances in medical research, technology, new drugs and increased healthcare spending, millions of patients continue to suffer and die from heart attacks and strokes. A great amount of research has been done to identify the disconnect between an increase in personal and government spending on healthcare and poor patient outcomes.

A large quantity of evidence has pointed out that our current system of fragmented, episodic and reactive care — in place of proactive, preventive care — is a major contributor to these substandard outcomes.

Although our healthcare system has been focused for decades on treatment rather than prevention, there is currently a shift toward putting greater emphasis on prevention.

Mildly elevated blood pressure, being slightly overweight, high triglyceride and cholesterol levels and sporadic bouts of high blood sugar may seem insignificant compared to diagnosed diseases such as hypertension, obesity or diabetes.

However, these overlapping conditions could be the most important warning signs for a heart attack or a stroke. This spectrum of abnormalities is now called Cardiometabolic Disease (CMD). Identifying and treating these conditions with proven therapies and empowering patients with the right tools are very important in lowering future risk.

Despite the availability of dedicated primary care, specialty physicians and world-renowned healthcare facilities, rates of Cardiometabolic Disease continue to increase at a frightening rate in our community. Even more pressing, this increase is happening during an age of unprecedented medical advancement. Unfortunately, the current healthcare system is designed to be episodic and reactive rather than proactive and is not tailored to the challenges and complexities of treating cardiometabolic diseases. A newer model of care that has been validated by research is of imminent need.

This newer model of care can only be achieved with a care team that can work together, communicate well, use current technology and continuously engage and monitor their patients before conditions worsen or a heart attack occurs. If treatment plans are not producing intended results, this team can identify this early on and direct patients to appropriate care to prevent further complications.

The Cardiometabolic Clinic at Georgia Cardiovascular Care exemplifies a novel paradigm in comprehensive and preventive cardiovascular risk reduction. By partnering with a patient’s existing primary and specialty physicians, we support them to achieve optimal health and wellness with less medication, when possible.

Our multidisciplinary team identifies patients at risk for heart attack, diabetes and stroke through cost-effective, office-based diagnostic testing. Our clinic offers a one-stop destination for Echocardiograms (heart ultrasound), traditional, nuclear and echo stress tests, Vascular studies, Holter and event monitors and ambulatory BP monitors to diagnose and manage common heart, vascular and metabolic conditions.

Through shared decision-making, the patient leaves equipped with a plan that is personalized and tailored to fit their needs. When appropriate, patients can be provided with monitoring devices such as connected blood pressure monitors, weighing scales, glucometer and supplies and a pulse oximeter to measure oxygen depending on their medical condition.

This technology enables our team to monitor your health on a regular basis, in between the office visits. Remote monitoring of blood pressure, weights and glucose levels allow us to adjust medications to optimize efficacy and reduce the risk of side effects on an ongoing basis.

The tremendous value of these services has already been recognized by Medicare and commercial payers, such that the costs to patients may be free or limited to a copay, depending on the insurance provider. These services can also be provided at a discounted self-pay rate for patients with commercial high deductible plans.

Our clinic employs a continuity-of-care model as opposed to more traditional episodic care. Frequent encounters with our care team and heal coaches enhance nutritional, exercise, behavioral and medication counseling. Our clinic also takes part in multiple clinical trials and gives patients an opportunity to participate if they are looking to try emerging therapies.

To learn more about the comprehensive approaches to reducing your cardiometabolic risk and preventing heart attack, stroke and diabetes, please contact us at: (404) 296-1130 or by email at: info@georgiacardiovascular.com.

Our board-certified cardiovascular specialists, Drs. Jason Reingold, Bobby Khan and Saravanan Kuppuswamy, lead the Cardiometabolic Clinic at Georgia Cardiovascular Care and also provide expert consultations and diagnostic testing for heart and vascular disease.