Contact: Dawn O'Polka 509.837.1543
Yakima, WA (February 1, 2019) - Astria Health is going all out for Heart Month this February.
According to Astria Health’s 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment, Yakima County is statistically higher than the Washington State average when it comes to deaths due to diseases of the heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death by both men and women in the United States. One in four deaths in the US is from heart disease.
Every day, Astria Health caregivers see the results of heart disease and want to do as much as possible to help. Astria Health primary care providers, hospital emergency room staff, our cardiologists and heart surgeons, and our cardiology professionals working at the bedside or at the operating table experience the results of heart disease that might well have been prevented.
“Many of us have been impacted by heart disease personally and professionally. From physicians and caregivers to our families and community partners. Too many people living in the Yakima Valley have had their lives changed because of heart disease and its consequences,” says John Gallagher, President and CEO, Astria Health. “Our goal, as a health system, is to focus on changing the direction of that trajectory right here where we live and work.”
As the largest integrated delivery system based in the Yakima Valley, Astria Health is focused here and the organization is in a unique position to touch many lives. And, because Astria Health provides a continuum of care from clinics, to hospitals, to ambulatory surgery centers, and home health and hospice, we can intercede on behalf of patients throughout their lifetime, from birth to older adult.
To impact deaths due to heart disease, Astria Health has committed to an increased focus on population health and wellness, community education, working alongside employers, connecting patients with a primary care provider, leveraging the expertise of our world-class cardiologists and heart experts, and partnering with other community and healthcare providers throughout the Valley.
Astria Health is passionate about building awareness of heart disease this February. We will be focusing on educating patients and communities about the ways to prevent heart disease and will share leading-edge advances being made in cardiac care. We will spread the word that heart disease is preventable. As the American Heart Association says, following these five simple steps lowers the risk of heart disease:
Here is a list of just a few of the Astria Health activities across the Valley during Heart Month. The Astria Health cardiologists and heart surgeons working with hospital and clinic caregivers are at the forefront of patient and community education.
February 1
Astria Health employees will be wearing red every Friday during Heart Month, including on the American Heart Association Wear Red for Women Day Friday February 1. The goal is to increase awareness of cardiovascular disease.
February 6
Astria Regional Medical Center Cardiac Rehab staff will present on the subject of Interventions of Cardiac Disease to members of the Sunrise Rotary in Yakima.
February 10-16
Cardiovascular Professionals Week and Cardiac Rehab Week. Astria Health is looking forward to celebrating and recognizing these essential caregivers and their important role in caring for cardiac patients.
February 14 (Valentine’s Day)
Astria Regional Medical Center is holding a Heart Expo and educational event in Murphy Auditorium on the hospital campus. The Heart Expo will feature cardiac care providers and many of the other organizations we work with every day as the hospital treats heart patients. Representatives from Astria Regional Medical Center cardiac departments like cardiac rehab, the Cath lab, and the surgery center will be there to provide education, demonstrate heart healthy exercises, and other activities.
Dr. Roberto Amado-Cattaneo, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Astria Regional Medical Center and Astria Heart Institute will be presenting on The Latest Advances in Cardiac Care and Heart Surgery to the 300 plus members of the Downtown Rotary Club in Yakima.
February 20
Open Heart Surgeon, Dr. Roberto Amado-Cattaneo and Cardiologist Dr. Oscar Bailon will be hosting a free evening presentation in Spanish emphasizing heart disease and heart attack prevention. This event is taking place at 6pm in Astria Regional Medical Center’s Murphy Auditorium.
Cardiologists Dr. John Owens and Dr. Kesav Parvataneni will be presenting to the employees of local employers throughout the Valley sharing information on heart care and the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
Dr. Bradley Titus, Interventional Cardiologist, will be presenting to the Sunrise Rotary on the topic of Leading Interventions of Cardiac Disease.
February 23
Astria Regional Medical Center is teaming up with AMR Ambulance to host a free CPR Blitz event. Trained first responders and caregivers will teach participants about the basics of hands-only CPR. They will also discuss how to use defibrillators and share knowledge on what to do in the event of a cardiac emergency . Attendees need to be at least 13 years old to participate.In recent national news headlines, a man was able to save another person’s life using simple CPR techniques. Our experts will share those basic skills with those attending this event. Thank you to AMR for your sponsorship of this event.
Other Astria Health activities throughout the month include Astria Sunnyside Hospital dietitians partnering with local Valley fitness clubs to discuss heart healthy meals, local news broadcast interviews with Astria Heart Institute physicians and cardiac care experts, and little hand knitted red hats given to our smallest patients (our babies) at Astria Toppenish Hospital and Astria Sunnyside during February.
To keep up on what is happening throughout Astria Health during February, follow Astria Health on Facebook or Instagram. Or, visit the Astria Health website at www.astria.health.
Posted February 04, 2019