Dr. Jonathan Bella, Chief, Division of Cardiology (right), reviewing patient information with Indira Latchman, RN, ANCC, and Sunil Penesett, Fellow, Cardiology.
Bronx-Lebanon Health System
Cardiology
The Division of Cardiology, under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Bella, is at the forefront in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Its inpatient and outpatient facilities provide high quality, state-of-the-art services to manage coronary heart disease and treat heart attacks, heart failure, and abnormal heart rhythms. BronxCare Health System is also one of a select group of organizations participating in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Million Hearts® Cardiovascular Disease Reduction Model. This initiative will provide an important opportunity to decrease cardiovascular disease risk.
In the outpatient area, BronxCare Health System’s Division of Cardiology is delivering high level diagnostic and treatment services for the heart in coordination with patients and their primary care providers. “Our cardiologists are responding to the high incidence of coronary disease, utilizing a new Cardiac Catherization Suite and Electrophysiology Lab to diagnose heart problems at an early stage. We are also helping patients understand and reduce their risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and cholesterol,” stated Dr. Nassim Krim, Director, Cardiac Catheterization Lab/Interventional Cardiology.
In 2015, the Cardiology Practice, in response to the high demand for its services, provided 22,000 patient visits, as well as 11,000 echocardiograms (heart ultrasounds), 3,500 stress tests, and 150 angioplasties for acute myocardial infarction (about 5% of angioplasties performed in New York City). BronxCare Health System’s Mission Lifeline Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association is a confirmation of its success in implementing these quality improvement measures for heart attack patients.
Coronary Intensive Care and Telemetry Units are an integral part of the Division of Cardiology’s daily activities. An Angioplasty/PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) program offers patients emergent and elective non-surgical options in the treatment of coronary heart disease, while a Heart Failure Program is providing services aimed at improving quality of life in heart failure patients. This Heart Failure program received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, an important recognition of the high quality cardiology care it provides. An Arrhythmia Service is also treating patients with atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) and other complex heart rhythm problems, including implantation of permanent pacemakers and cardiac defibrillators to prevent sudden cardiac death.