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Facing COVID-19 with preventive cardiology
Pamela Rama, MD, FACC Cardiologist
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PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY Facing COVID-19
The arrival of COVID-19 changed the health care landscape in many ways. Because individuals with comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, are at higher risk for complications and mortality if infected with COVID-19, the necessity to provide preventive cardiology became more imperative. “If you have heart disease, you are at a higher risk for both catching the virus and having a very bad outcome if you get sick,” explained Chetan Hampole, MD, FACC, cardiologist with Baptist Heart Specialists.
Working with patients in new ways
As patients increasingly are comfortable with either in-person or virtual appointments, cardiologists have been challenged to remotely provide quality, preventive medical care.
Of course, cardiologists make in-person appointments when the patient's comfort level or condition doesn’t allow for telemedicine. As COVID-19 prevalence ebbs and flows, cardiologists have encouraged patients to do their part in staying healthy by focusing on active, healthy lifestyles – no easy feat when routines are disrupted. “Every heart is unique, and we treat each patient with an individualized approach, stressing the importance of a diligent heart-healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Hampole. Cardiologist Mona Shah, MD, works with patients on the connection between their lifestyle and heart health. As the only physician in Northeast Florida who is board certified in both cardiology and holistic medicine, she believes in treating Mona Shah, MD the whole patient. She encourages them to Cardiologist take control of what they can. “With all the uncontrollable factors in the world, do your best to exercise, eat healthy and be grateful for the parts of your life that are bringing you joy,” she tells her patients.
Emphasis on the whole patient experience
Despite the challenges, team members and physicians at Baptist Heart Specialists have continued to focus on the patient experience – and our patients took notice. “The medical office staff is welcoming, extremely courteous and efficient, and the physical office space, including the lobby and examining rooms, are meticulously clean and all COVID-19 precautions are followed scrupulously,” raved one grateful patient. “All of the staff I dealt with were very polite and seemed to care about my condition,” said another. “I really am glad that I went to Baptist Heart Specialists.” “Caring for your heart can’t be paused. We are determined to stay connected with our patients so they recieve the care they need,” said Pamela Rama, MD, FACC, cardiologist with Baptist Heart Specialists. “Every heart is unique and we treat each patient with an individualized approach, stressing the importance of a diligent heart-healthy lifestyle.”
Chetan Hampole, MD, FACC Cardiologist, Chief of Cardiology at Baptist Clay
