Health Clips Lifesaving ECMO now at St. Luke’s Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a specialized life support machine that is now available at St. Luke’s. It’s one of a limited number of ECMO machines in the state. According to the American Thoracic Society individuals in need of ECMO have severe and life-threatening illnesses that stops the heart or lungs from working properly.
UnityPoint Clinic – Express Opening in Hiawatha A new type of walk-in clinic is opening in Hiawatha, which will focus on convenience and personalized care. UnityPoint Clinic – Express, opening in March, will feature a time-saving process that aims to get patients in and out in less than 30 minutes. Clinical care attendants will greet individuals entering the clinic and will remain with the patient throughout the visit. These medical professionals are trained to help every step of the way with registration, vitals, symptom assessment and laboratory or X-ray services while working with a nurse practitioner or physician for diagnosis and treatment. On-site prescription medications will also be available for added convenience. The Express experience will include thoughtful amenities like complimentary ice packs, warm blankets, hot tea and complimentary WiFi. The new UnityPoint Clinic – Express will open in March at Pecks Landing Plaza located at 1940 Blairs Ferry Rd., Suite 104, in Hiawatha. You can walk-in to UnityPoint Clinic – Express or go online and make an appointment at bit.ly/upcexpress.
During ECMO treatment blood is withdrawn from a large vein in the body, then passed through a pumping mechanism and a device that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. Blood is then returned to the individual’s circulatory system. ECMO is a potential short-term treatment for cardiac and respiratory failure patients and is an option for patients who may have had a heart attack, infection, pneumonia, influenza, trauma or smoke inhalation, among others. Cardiothoracic Surgeon Garry Weide, DO, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa and St. Luke’s co-medical director of the ECMO program says the program started in January. “This important supportive treatment at St. Luke’s is backed by a highly-skilled multidisciplinary team,” explains Dr. Weide. “ECMO provides an option for our sickest patients to give their hearts and lungs a chance to heal and to sustain life as their body recovers from an illness. It will be an option for more patients earlier in the course of treatment to allow the body to heal over the course of a few days to a few weeks.” ECMO is one more example of the advanced cardiovascular treatment available close to home at the UnityPoint Health Heart and Vascular Institute. Learn more at bit.ly/crhearthospital.
Tune in to LiveWell Talk On Podcasts From heart health to children’s wellness tips, medical breakthroughs and everything in-between UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids medical and health experts are lending their voice and knowledge to our locally produced podcasts. LiveWell Talk On… podcasts are hosted by St. Luke’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dustin Arnold with new episodes posted weekly. To listen, search LiveWell Talk On in Apple and Google podcast platforms and other major podcast apps. If you’d like to suggest a topic, email it to StLukesCR@unitypoint.org. LiveWell Winter 2020 | 1
