2023 Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute Impact Report - Hoag Hospital Foundation

Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute

A Leading Lifeline of Care

The Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute and its specialized team are dedicated to providing innovative and state-of-the-art care for patients. The Institute and its renowned team of experts are raising the bar for cardiovascular care in Southern California. With heart disease as a leading cause of death for adults in the United States, it is imperative to have a robust array of programs and services that deliver quality care and exceptional patient outcomes.

Program Highlights

In February 2022, Hoag began performing transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedures to treat carotid artery disease and help prevent future strokes. This procedure is minimally invasive and can result in less pain, a smaller incision, better outcomes, and shorter hospital stays.

50% increase in the number of ablations performed at Hoag’s Irvine campus, which treat atrial fibrillation, one of the most common heart conditions. This major growth is thanks to philanthropic funding that enabled Hoag to acquire new mapping equipment in 2019.

1,000 TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) procedures performed since offering the procedure. This is a milestone reached by only one other Orange County institution.

500 approximate number of cardiac surgeries performed annually, more than all other Orange County hospitals combined

Physician Spotlights

Philanthropy helps Hoag recruit exceptional talent and foster it by creating nurturing environments that promote exploration and innovation. Meet two of the newest surgeons at the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute:

Emaad Farooqui, MD Vascular Surgery

“I wanted to go to a place where I could expand the current vascular surgery treatments with innovative procedures that I learned in training, and Hoag has been very supportive of that.”

Since starting at Hoag in September 2021, Dr. Emaad Farooqui has found a nurturing environment. He was drawn to Hoag by the opportunity to build. There is always something new in cardiovascular care, and Dr. Farooqui appreciates the ability to bring new treatments and technology to patients. Vascular surgeons respond to urgent situations, which can touch all areas.

“We treat patients for stroke, dialysis, general vascular disease, aneurysms of the aorta and the peripheral vascular system, and more,” said Dr. Farooqui. With this wide scope, Dr. Farooqui is excited about offering patients more minimally invasive options for traditionally complex procedures that can mean shorter hospital stays and easier recoveries. “The next goal would be to advance the current technology on minimally invasive aortic surgery to improve patient outcomes,” said Dr. Farooqui. “Hoag has the team mindset and the resources to do that and more for patients.”

Timothy Lee, MD Cardiovascular Surgery, Thoracic Surgery

“Hoag’s priority is the patient and the community. The leadership at Hoag very much wants to empower its physicians to serve the community.”

Dr. Lee knew Hoag well before joining its team in October 2021. When he’d visit family in Orange County, they would rave about the hospital he could see from the beach. “My family and other physicians all spoke highly of Hoag,” said Dr. Lee.

“I heard Hoag had that attitude of getting things done, so I was excited about that.” As a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, he most often sees patients with coronary artery, valve, or aortic issues. “Seeing how we make a huge impact on a patient’s life by allowing them to live more symptom-free is pretty dramatic,” said Dr. Lee. As more procedures become available to patients and new treatments are explored, Dr. Lee sees Hoag’s dedication to innovation. “We’re fortunate here at Hoag to be invited to all these trials to implement new technologies,” he said. “Hoag is functioning as a high-volume center and has the resources of an academic center too.”

THINK AORTA: Patients Form Connections and Share Experiences at Aortic Disease Awareness Day

The Elaine & Robert Matranga Aortic Center at Hoag delivers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to aortic care. To emphasize the importance of sharing information about aortic disease and creating a community of support, Hoag hosts an annual Aortic Disease Awareness Day, in conjunction with the internationally recognized event. Hoag’s Aortic Disease Awareness Day on September 19, 2022, was a day that united people who care about aortic disease and related connective tissue conditions, celebrated survivors, and shared information that can be lifesaving for people who are at risk.

Cardiac and surgical staff at Aortic Disease Awareness Day

“Take Her to Hoag”: Aortic Dissection Patient Recounts Lifesaving Care

Emergency department staff at Hoag knew what Jean was suffering from even before the diagnostic tests came back to confirm it. It was an aortic dissection: A potentially deadly condition in which a tear happens in the inner layer of the body’s main artery. It was Easter Sunday 2022.

Sometime before that fateful day, Jean had been feeling unwell. She was having a hard time breathing and was sweating heavily. She had even gone to an emergency room at a different local hospital, where staff assured her that she was fine. “They completely missed the aorta problem,” said Jean.

When Easter Sunday came around, Jean became dizzy and then collapsed. Her husband called 911 and the responding firefighters insisted: take her to Hoag. “Fortunately, the emergency department recognized that this was an issue,” said Dr. Anthony Caffarelli, Newkirk Family Endowed Chair in Aortic Care, and a specialized team moved quickly to operate. “When we showed up to the emergency department with the team already assembled, Jean was in a lot of trouble.” They performed the surgery just in the nick of time.

Once out of surgery, Jean kept hearing how lucky she was. She never knew what an aortic dissection was before. After learning how serious they are, she realized in fact how fortunate she was to have arrived at Hoag. “I had a very, very small window to get to Hoag, get assessed, and get into the operating room for this amazing team to operate on me,” said Jean. She is back on the tennis court and back to her active lifestyle, thankful to those who rallied around her during an emergency where time was of the essence.

“I’m just boundlessly grateful.”

Staff Spotlight: Empowered by Genetics

Chelsey Weatherill, MS

Licensed, Certified Genetic Counselor Hoag Family Cancer Institute, Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute

From the age of 16, Chelsey Weatherill has been passionate about studying genetics. That passion, and philanthropic support, brought her to a career at Hoag, where she is a licensed, certified genetic counselor. Genetic counseling is the process of investigating individuals and families affected by or at risk of genetic disorders to help them understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. In 2021, Chelsey brought her expertise to the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute, helping identify individuals with genetic mutations, including those related to aortic disease and disorders of connective tissue.

Through a blood sample or swab of saliva, she can identify gene mutations and uncover conditions hidden for generations, often helping a family detect and ideally prevent medical emergencies from happening.

“Sometimes, families don’t know about these conditions, and the first sign is an aortic dissection or sudden death. We’d like to avoid that at all costs.”

Once there is a diagnosis, Chelsey guides patients through the task of informing other family members who may be impacted, finding support resources and helping facilitate testing for other relatives whether they are local or across the country. Though discovering a life-changing health condition can be difficult, Chelsey knows her role and that of other genetic counselors is vital in helping patients and their families be informed about their health.

“Genetic counseling combines being a counselor, an educator, and detective work to figure out what the best test is and what’s going on in the family,” Chelsey said.

Outreach & Global Impact

Philanthropic support empowers the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute team to expand their reach by funding their participation in renowned conferences and gatherings. This presence elevates Hoag’s profile among the leading cardiovascular experts from around the world.

• Montalcino Aortic Consortium: Hoag’s aortic team was invited to participate in this consortium which provided invaluable information and exposure for our aortic professionals. The Montalcino Aortic Consortium is a grouping of prominent clinical, basic, and translational investigators from medical centers around the world committed to diagnosing and managing aortic disorders and discovering their genetic causes and modifiers.

• Houston Aortic Symposium: In March 2022, Hoag sent a group of 10 cardiac and vascular surgeons, aortic nurse practitioners, nurses, surgical techs, and a genetic counselor to the Houston Aortic Symposium in Texas. There, they participated in discussing important topics, including the diagnosis and treatment paradigms for aortic and structural heart diseases.

• Science in Paris (The Marfan Foundation): Hoag offers an integrated, best-inclass team treating Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue conditions. By participating in The Marfan Foundation’s meeting, Science in Paris, from August 29–September 1, 2022, Hoag’s team collaborated with national and international researchers and clinicians focused on genetic aortic and vascular conditions, aiming to enhance care for patients and families.

Hoag’s team at the Houston Aortic Symposium

Outreach and Global Impact

(Continued)

How a Hoag-Sponsored Conference Provided a Man and His Family with a Life-changing Diagnosis and Lifesaving Information

Reg Bronson traveled from the central California city of Winton to Newport Beach for The Marfan Foundation’s annual international conference hosted by Hoag. His family tree and history were laden with medical conditions and emergencies, many of which were heart related. After a family member died of an aortic dissection in May 2022, he heard about Marfan syndrome and decided to explore more. Just a couple of months later, he and his wife Edith were at The Marfan Foundation’s conference in Newport Beach. As they were about to leave for the day, a person in a booth offered him a free genetic test. Reg said: “Sure, why not?” and within minutes, he’d done mouth swabs and was on his way. “Three weeks later, I get this call from Chelsey Weatherill, and she said I tested positive for Marfan syndrome.”

Chelsey is a Hoag genetic counselor who plays a vital role in education and recommendations around genetic testing. At that point, Reg wasn’t surprised by the diagnosis. He’d examined what he knew of his grandfather and father’s presumed heart attacks, his family’s history of retinal detachments, lens dislocations, and aortic dissections. Chelsey helped with outreach to Reg’s family members to facilitate their own testing. “In the next 90 days, we had about 45 family members tested and a little under 50% are positive,” said Reg. He has followed up with Dr. David Liang to monitor his Marfan syndrome. Dr. Liang leads Hoag’s Clinic for Marfan Syndrome and Related Conditions in the Elaine & Robert Matranga Aortic Center and is on The Marfan Foundation’s Professional Advisory Board. “For me, at this point, it’s monitoring but being aware of what to watch for,” said Reg. “It’s enlightening to me to have this information. I’m very grateful to Hoag for putting on that conference.”

Hoag’s team provided genetic testing to six people at the conference. Like it did for him, the test provided answers for those individuals who tested positive for Marfan syndrome, and subsequently their relatives, who are now using that information to seek appropriate health care and plan for their families. For those who tested negative for Marfan syndrome and related conditions, they received relief and closure. Hoag’s Clinic for Marfan Syndrome and Related Conditions has had twice the number of genetics consults since the July 2022 conference than it did in the first half of that year, leading to 30 new patients who have established care at Hoag.

Reg, who also has multiple sclerosis, continues to explore Marfan syndrome with his family members and piece together a more complete picture of his family’s health history, especially those that included emergencies and sudden deaths.

“If we can avoid it, we now have the wisdom to do that.”

Reg and Edith Bronson

Dedication to Innovation

With philanthropic support in 2022, Hoag’s cardiovascular specialists explored the latest treatments, techniques, and technology to advance patient care.

• SeamlessMD app: The Institute piloted this app, giving patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery at Hoag the guidance they need before, during, and after surgery. It delivers interactive, personalized education, such as videos, reminders, and to-do lists. With this platform, Hoag’s team is exploring how this guidance can impact readmissions and patient outcomes.

• Arena Strive platform: Hoag collaborated to refine this platform for frontline health care professionals. It teaches techniques to optimize resilience and manage stress with the goals of reducing mental fatigue and maximizing renewed energy and recovery. The Institute is doing a second pilot of this platform with other teams to provide support and education for enhancing work practices.

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) intravascular imaging: Using this software, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, Hoag is enhancing the technology used to treat patients receiving coronary stents. These images provide additional information on the degree and characteristics of coronary artery disease and guiding stent implantation.

• Siemens Force CT scanner: This state-of-the-art machine was unveiled on July 18, 2022, at Hoag Health Center Newport Beach, enabling elevated levels of image quality, speeding up the scanning process, and impacting clinical outcomes for cardiac patients. This technology allows Hoag to see more patients, and delivers to them the highest image quality possible.

Renowned & Recognized

With a team dedicated to reaching higher to enhance patient care, the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute continues to receive distinctions.

• The Society of Thoracic Surgeons ranked Hoag’s cardiovascular surgery program in the highest category for quality and successful outcomes, achieved by only 1.8% of hospitals nationwide.

• The 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report ranked Hoag high performing in: Aortic Valve Surgery, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Attack, Heart Failure, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

• Hoag was the recipient of the American Heart Association’s 2022 Get With The Guidelines® – Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

Thank You

Your support has ensured that lifesaving cardiovascular care is available to Hoag patients for the most complex and high-risk heart and vascular conditions. From advanced diagnostics and interventional treatments to open heart surgery and recovery, Hoag’s Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute is a powerhouse of care that changes lives for the better.

That’s all because of you.

For more information about supporting cardiovascular care at Hoag, contact: Camille Schwan, director of development, at (949) 764-7244 or Camille.Schwan@hoag.org.

www.hoaghospitalfoundation.org