Support & Guidance with a Personal Touch

If you have recently learned or suspect that you have a cardiac arrhythmia such as Atrial Fibrillation – also known as A Fib – you probably have questions. How serious is my condition? Can it be treated? Who will guide me through the testing and treatments? Will I ever lead a normal life?

Relax.

The Center for Arrhythmias and Atrial Fibrillation introduces a new approach that turns a seemingly complex medical issue into a seamless experience.

Inspired by the hotel concierge concept, our Nurse Navigator program connects each patient with a cardiac nurse who provides continuous patient education and support from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.

Meet Your Nurse Navigator.

A call to the Center for Arrhythmias and Atrial Fibrillation connects you with a registered nurse specifically trained to assist patients who have a cardiac arrhythmia. The nurse will provide information regarding arrhythmias as well as guidance in setting up a consult with an electrophysiologist. All pre-consultation essentials will be clearly explained, including testing that may be required, the usual length of consultation, and what to expect when you visit with the electrophysiologist. If you live out of the Central Texas area, the nurse will even direct you to a list of Austin area accommodations.

Your Consultation

The personal service that you receive by phone continues when you arrive for your consultation. If you drive to St. David’s Medical Center you will be greeted by Valet Parking attendants or you may choose to self-park in the adjacent covered garage (the latter option is complimentary for persons age 55 and up).

Your consult with the electrophysiologist will include a review of your medical history, examinations, and tests. In most cases a diagnosis is confirmed and treatment options discussed.

To enhance continuity of care, the nurse joins you in the consult and reviews any treatment plans discussed. This is an ideal opportunity to bring up concerns you may have; the role of the nurse is to answer your questions and assure that you clearly understand the diagnosis and treatment recommendations. If additional questions arise upon your return home, a simple phone call to your nurse will ease your mind.

Guidance Before, During and After Treatment

Whatever treatment you select – from medication to cardioversion or ablation – your nurse provides a hearty dose of patient education all along the way.

If you opt to have a hospital procedure such as ablation, the nurse will be with you following the procedure, helping you navigate through those first moments after waking up. Before discharge, the nurse meets with you and your family to assure that you have a clear understanding of what to expect in the days ahead.

When you return home, we encourage you to stay in close contact via phone. In addition, patients use an Event Monitor to transmit heart rhythm data to the nurse, who serves as a liaison and reviews the information with the electrophysiologist. Communication with the nurse continues in the months after treatment, enriching the healing process and assuring that our experience is your beacon of knowledge.

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Cardiac Arrhythmia

A cardiac arrhythmia is a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system, causing it to beat very rapidly or in an uncontrolled pattern. As a result, blood is not pumped effectively throughout the body. Atrial fibrillation (A Fib) is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting about 2.2 million Americans. During A Fib, the electrical malfunction occurs in the upper chambers of the heart, called the atria.

Symptoms
Patients often complain of a rapid heart beat, difficulty catching their breath and a feeling of lightheadedness. If an arrhythmia is left untreated, blood can accumulate in the atrium and form clots, leading to stroke.

Treatments
While medication or cardioversion may relieve the symptoms of A Fib or other arrhythmias, cardiac ablation is often a cure. In an ablation, the electrophysiologist creates a lesion in the specific area of the heart responsible for firing abnormal electrical impulses, thereby eliminating the trigger point for the arrhythmia.

Learn More about Cardiac Arrhythmias Diagnosis and Treatments