SoutheastHEALTH Becomes First in Southeast Missouri
to Offer Patients a New Heart Failure Monitoring Solution
Cape Girardeau, Missouri - SoutheastHEALTH is the first facility in Southeast Missouri to implant a new miniaturized, wireless monitoring sensor to manage heart failure (HF). The CardioMEMS HF System is the first and only FDA-approved heart failure monitoring device that has been proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions when used by physicians to manage heart failure.
The CardioMEMS HF System features a sensor that is implanted in the pulmonary artery (PA) during a non-surgical procedure to directly measure PA pressure. Increased PA pressures appear before weight and blood pressure changes, which are often used as indirect measures of worsening heart failure. The new system allows patients to transmit daily sensor readings from their homes to their cardiologist, allowing for personalized and proactive HF management.
“This innovative technology improves our ability to treat and positively impact outcomes for heart failure patients,” said Dr. Bryan Beck, Cardiologist, who will be inserting this monitoring device in our Heart Failure patients starting today. “This device provides us with the ability to detect worsening heart failure sooner and adjust treatment to reduce the likelihood that the patient will need to be hospitalized.”
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 5.1 million Americans have heart failure, with 670,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Patients with heart failure are frequently hospitalized, have a reduced quality of life and face a higher risk of death.
The CardioMEMS sensor is designed to last the lifetime of the patient and doesn’t require batteries. Once implanted, the wireless sensor sends pressure readings to an external patient electronic system. There is no pain or sensation for the patient during the readings. The CardioMEMS HF System allows the patients to transmit critical information about their heart failure status to a clinician on a regular basis, without the need for additional clinic or hospital visits. This provides clinicians with the ability to detect worsening heart failure sooner and adjust treatment to reduce the likelihood that the patient will need to be hospitalized.
“SoutheastHEALTH is committed to improving patient care and investing in innovative technology such as the CardioMEMS HF System,” said Ken Bateman, President and CEO. “This device empowers efficient and effective patient care through innovative solutions that deliver successful patient outcomes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.”
About SoutheastHEALTH
At SoutheastHEALTH, the region's premier healthcare system in Southeast Missouri, our patients receive excellent care of the highest clinical quality, close to home. Within our network are more than 50 care locations in 14 communities, including hospitals, primary and specialty care clinics representing over 30 clinical specialties and extending care for patients in a four-state area.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself:
“My husband, Bob Blankenship, and I lived in Dexter and we were married for 57 years. Our favorite hobby was ballroom dancing. On our 50th wedding anniversary, we held a ballroom dancing event at Hidden Trails Country Club. Bob and I also had a passion for preparing meals for friends and church family members that were ill.“
What made you choose our agency to provide your home health care?
“I had heard of the Southeast Home Health Agency's wonderful reputation and had previously used Southeast Hospital for medical services.”
What do you enjoy most about home health therapy?
“The therapists are always so nice and the service they provide is wonderful.”
Please share some of the goals you have for the future and how therapy might help you reach those goals:
“I would like to be able to walk independently so that I can return to my normal activities outside the home."
The Home Health Spotlight is a courtesy of the caring professionals of Southeast Health! You have a choice in who will provide your home health services. Remember to request Southeast Home Health of Dexter or contact us at (573) 624-3511 for additional information.
SoutheastHEALTH Names
Pauline Arnold as
Quality Management Executive Director
Cape Girardeau, Missouri - SoutheastHEALTH has announced the appointment of Pauline Arnold, MSN, MSA, RN, HACP, as Executive Director of Quality Management.
Arnold brings extensive experience to her position with Southeast. She has successfully implemented quality and patient safety initiatives and regulatory and accreditation compliance for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Joint Commission and state surveys. She is experienced with acute care organization leadership, strategic planning, long-term skilled nursing care and ambulatory surgery centers ranging from small rural hospitals to a large hospital within an academic health system.
Chief Medical Officer Matt Shoemaker, DO, said, “Southeast welcomes Pauline to our team. She has immense and valuable experience in quality and regulatory areas.”
For the past 11 years, Arnold has been affiliated with Indiana University Health La Porte and Starke Hospitals in La Porte, Ind. She most recently served as chief nursing and quality officer, vice president of Clinical Operations.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Goshen College, Goshen, Ind. She received a Master of Science in Administration from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Arnold said she chose to become part of SoutheastHEALTH “because Southeast’s mission aligns with my personal mission, to make a difference through our commitment to excellence.”
This is an exciting time in healthcare, Arnold added, “as we continue on our journey of improving the health of our community, through value-based healthcare and health management. My quality passion is to assure all patients, choosing SoutheastHEALTH as their healthcare provider, will receive value with care that is patient-centered, safe, effective, efficient, timely and equitable.”
About SoutheastHEALTH
At SoutheastHEALTH, the region's premier healthcare system in southeast Missouri, our patients receive excellent care of the highest clinical quality, close to home. Within our network are more than 50 care locations in 14 communities, including hospitals, primary and specialty care clinics representing over 30 clinical specialties and extending care for patients in a four-state area. Learn more at SEhealth.org.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri - The Cape Girardeau Roller Girls recently presented a check of $450 to Southeast Hospice.
The money will go to the Southeast Hospice Patient Care Fund, which aids patients/families in need during their end-of-life journey.
The money came from proceeds from ticket sales at the roller derby team’s 2015 home bout on April 4.
Pictured from left: Tessa McNally, a former skater for the Roller Girls; and Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Pearla Smith.
About SoutheastHEALTH
At SoutheastHEALTH, the region's premier healthcare system in southeast Missouri, our patients receive excellent care of the highest clinical quality, close to home. Within our network are more than 50 care locations in 14 communities, including hospitals, primary and specialty care clinics representing over 30 clinical specialties and extending care for patients in a four-state area. Learn more at SEhealth.org.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Patricia M. Ranzini has joined the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation as Executive Director. Ranzini has extensive and varied experience in fundraising and non-profit administration.
She has led development efforts at major non-profit institutions since 1999. Most recently, she served as Foundation executive director for St. Anthony’s Medical Center in south St. Louis County.
Her experience includes providing strategic direction for two major comprehensive campaigns and she also has been successful in securing multiple major gifts for various institutions.
SoutheastHEALTH Foundation Board Chairman Clint Karnes said Southeast is “very pleased and extremely fortunate to have someone of Patti’s background and experience to lead our Foundation team. We look forward to introducing her to the region as we further the mission of SoutheastHEALTH.”
Ranzini said she welcomes the opportunity to support the mission of the Foundation. “The SoutheastHEALTH Foundation will work in the coming years to increase our fund development goals. This will allow us to pursue some very exciting opportunities and further serve our patients and the health of our region.”
Ranzini holds B.A. and M.L.A. degrees in philosophy. She is a member of the Women’s Leadership Council of the Humane Society of Missouri, the Senior Professionals of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy and the St. Louis Planned Giving Council.
About SoutheastHEALTH
At SoutheastHEALTH, the region's premier healthcare system in southeast Missouri, our patients receive excellent care of the highest clinical quality, close to home. Within our network are more than 50 care locations in 14 communities, including hospitals, primary and specialty care clinics representing over 30 clinical specialties and extending care for patients in a four-state area. Learn more at SEhealth.org.
