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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

NON-ALCOHOLIC RED WINE MAY HELP REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE

A new report that "non-alcoholic red wine reduced blood pressure in men at high risk for heart disease better than standard red wine or gin, according to" a "study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research."

CNN  reports that investigators "instructed 67 older men at risk for heart disease to consume the same beverage every day for one month at a time: red wine (about two glasses), non-alcoholic red wine, or gin (about two shots)." The researchers found that "the daily doses of alcoholic red wine and of gin - which doesn't contain polyphenols - had no discernible effect on blood pressure." However, "when the men drank the non-alcoholic red wine, their systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell by an average of 6 and 2 points, respectively, over the course of the month."

The nonalcoholic wine drinkers also showed increased levels of nitric oxide - a molecule in the blood that previous studies have linked with improving blood-vessel health and lowering blood pressure.

The results of the study were largely the same when excluding individuals with hypertension and those taking antihypertensives, the researchers reported.

Steven Almany M.D.

Monday, July 29, 2013

BEAUMONT MICHIGAN HEART GROUP'S PHYSICIAN LIAISON IS HERE TO HELP YOU

Michigan Heart Group has a Physician Liaison on staff to assist with questions, concerns or problems you, your staff or your patients may have with our office.

Stacie Batur is available Monday through Thursday at (248) 267-5050 (x6509). She is often between two buildings or visiting referring physician offices. If you get her voice mail, please leave a message and she will call you back shortly. If you need to speak to her immediately you can reach her on her cell phone at (248) 765-4466.

Friday, July 26, 2013

STRESS TEST SHEDS LIGHT ON SURVIVAL ODDS

By Chris Kaiser, Cardiology Editor, MedPage Today
Published: September 10, 2012
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner

Action Points

  • These studies were published as abstracts and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
  • The ability to perform a cardiac stress exercise test strongly predicts survival.
  • Note that those who could not finish the exercise test had significantly higher rates of myocardial infarction (MI) and revascularization, but not death.
BALTIMORE -- The ability to perform a stress exercise test strongly predicts survival, but an inability to complete the test may be diagnostic for severe disease, according to two Brazilian studies.

In one study, 11.6% of 391 patients who did not reach 85% of their maximum heart rate had higher ischemia scores on SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging compared with those who completed the test, reported Andrea De Lorenzo, MD, of Clinica de Diagnostico por Imagem in Rio de Janeiro, and colleagues.

Those who could not finish the exercise test had significantly higher rates of myocardial infarction (MI) and revascularization, but not death, during a 2-year follow-up, De Lorenzo said here at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.
In addition, a history of MI and the summed difference score independently predicted submaximal exercise.

De Lorenzo and colleagues concluded that chronotropic incompetence may be a marker of myocardial ischemia. However, it may not even be necessary to send these patients to have a pharmacologic stress test, De Lorenzo told MedPage Today.

"Perhaps we should begin to look at chronotropic incompetence as a diagnosis. Perhaps they don't need a second test and we send them to the cath lab," she said.
De Lorenzo added that the study was small and they are still recruiting more patients to determine the significance of their findings.

Overall, patients with chronotropic incompetence and perfusion defects did worse than those with chronotropic incompetence and normal SPECT scans.
Age and diabetes were not significantly different among those who could and could not exercise. Patients exercised on average for 6 to 8 minutes before they stopped.
In a second study, Joao Vitola, MD, PhD, of Quanta Diagnostico Nuclear in Curitiba, Brazil, and colleagues found that in a population of patients older than 75 those who could complete a stress exercise test had better survival than those who could not.
Researchers analyzed data from 1,358 consecutive patients, mean age 79, and slightly more than half of them women (54%).

A total of 41% of patients were able to complete the exercise test and 15% were able to perform a combination of low-level exercise plus dipyridamole. The remaining patients required pharmacologic stress alone.

"Being able to exercise was the strongest independent predictor of survival compared to any form of pharmacologic stress," they concluded.
The hazard ratio was 2.54 (95% CI 1.75 to 3.68, P<0 .001="" o:p="">
Two other variables were significant risk factors:
  • Male gender: HR 1.47 (95% CI 1.06 to 2.03, P=0.02)
  • Ejection fraction less than 50%: HR 1.48 (95% CI 1.03 to 2.11, P=0.03)
Having abnormal perfusion, diabetes, and known coronary artery disease did not reach significance.

The strongest predictor of death in the cohort that could exercise was having an abnormal perfusion scan (HR 2.46, 95% CI 1.17 to 5.18), the authors stated.


POSTED BY: Steven Almany M.D.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

ARE THERE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR THROMBOCYTOPENIA?

Depends on the cause:

If the cause is reversible (like a secondary immune reaction due to a medication) then stopping the medication should help reverse the process.  If the problem is autoimmune, other strategies such as plasmapheresis/immunisuppression might make a significant impact  These decisions are best managed by a hematologist.

POSTED BY: Steven Ajluni, MD

Monday, July 22, 2013

WELCOMING MICHELLE FORCINA, PA-C AND DAWN MITCHELL, ACNP

Beaumont Michigan Heart Group would like to welcome two new physician extenders...

Michelle Forcina, Physician Assistant
Dawn Mitchell, Nurse Practitioner 

They will be joining our mid-level team of Cheryl Vincent, A.P.R.N.; Anita Juriga, A.P.R.N; Howard Hollinger, P.A.-C.; Debra Goodall, A.P.R.N; Mariann Graham, Nurse Clinician; and Lilly Paciorkowski, Nurse Clinician.

Michelle comes to us with a background in Cardiac Electrophysiology.  She has primarily worked with Electrophysiologist and Device Clinics for the last seven years. She will be office based and seeing patients out of Beaumont's Michigan Heart Rhythm Group, working closely with our device specialist Jan Halash and Amy Douglas as well as Drs. Cragg, Williamson and Kutinsky.

Dawn has worked for William Beaumont Hospital in several different capacities over the last 30 years and we are lucky to have her as part of our team.  Her main focus for the last 20 years has been Cardiology where she has learned the many different arenas it has to offer.  Dawn will primarily be seeing patients in the hospital however will most likely also see patients in the office as space and time allow.

We are very fortunate to have found these two wonderful additions to our team.  They look forward to meeting you and we hope you look forward to meeting them.

Thank you!
The Beaumont Michigan Heart Group Physicians

Friday, July 19, 2013

2013 BEAUMONT MICHIGAN HEART GROUP HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Beaumont Michigan Heart Group closes in observance of all the major holiday'sThe 2013 days are listed below.  We ask, in order to ensure your prescriptions are refilled in time, please call at least one week prior to the holiday.  Calls taken after 10:00 am, the day before closing, are not guaranteed to be called in.

Monday
May 27, 2013
Memorial Day
Thursday
July 4, 2013
Independence Day
Monday
September 2, 2013
Labor Day
Thursday
November 28, 2013
Thanksgiving
Friday
November 29, 2013 
Day after Thanksgiving
Tuesday
December 24, 2013
Christmas Eve
Wednesday
December 25, 2013
Christmas Day
Tuesday
December 31, 2013
New Year’s Eve (1/2 day)
Wednesday
January 1, 2014
New Year’s Day


Thank you:
The Beaumont Michigan Heart Group Staff

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

NEW NOVI OFFICE, NOW OPEN!

We are happy to announce that our Western Wayne Heart Group office has moved to a new location at 10 Mile and Haggerty, in Novi.  We are only 5 minutes away from the old location.

39500 Ten Mile Road
Suite 103
Novi, MI 48375
Phone: (248) 267-5050
Fax: (248) 267-5051

Please see the link below for directions for our old office in Livonia to the new office in Novi.
http://goo.gl/maps/6h7hq

The move was made for several reasons.  Primarily when we enter the Physician Service Agreement (PSA) with Beaumont we needed to follow Joint Commission standards.  Several of which, unfortunately, were not able to be met within the buildings structure.  The move allowed us to meet Joint Commission standards in addition too upgrading to state of the art equipment.

We hope you are as happy with our new Novi home as we are.  Should you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to call our Physician Liaison Stacie Batur.  She can help stream line communications between referring physicians, bring cards to your office (if you're a physician), or simply answer a question.  She can be reached at the numbers below:

Office: (248) 267-5050 (x6509); Primarily Mondays and Thursdays
Mobile: (248)765-4466;  Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Monday, July 15, 2013

MICHIGAN HEART GROUP INTERGRATES WITH WILLIAM BEAUMONT HOSPITAL

On June 1, 2012 a change occurred at Michigan Heart Group we became integrated with William Beaumont Hospital in the form of a Professional Services Agreement. Our signage will soon read Beaumont Michigan Heart Group, Beaumont Michigan Heart Rhythm Group and Beaumont Western Wayne Heart Group.

This professional agreement will integrate some of the services that we provide with the hospital as well as some of our operations including our outpatient testing and billing, but will allow Michigan Heart Group to maintain operational control of the practice. Management of these operations still occurs locally within Michigan Heart Group. We have not experienced that these changes with Beaumont have disrupted any of the services that you currently receive from your physician.

We believe that with this integration model, we will be best able to provide you with the high quality of care that you have come to expect and deserve from our practice. All of our physicians will continue practicing from their current locations and your records will remain available to your physician without any further actions taken on your part. This is intended to be essentially a transparent change to you, the patient, in terms of how your care is delivered. Such a change has been made necessary after we have experienced years of progressive cuts in insurance reimbursement while our fixed costs have steadily increased. The status quo was no longer a viable option for the future.

You will notice changes specific to billing. Beaumont will bill applicable charges to your insurance. You will receive a billing statement from Beaumont rather than from Michigan Heart Group. You may still call Michigan Heart Group for billing inquiries however questions/determinations will be advised and directed by Beaumont.

We value your loyalty and trust that you have placed in our physicians and staff over the past several years and we continue to look forward to serving you in the future. As we indicated above, we believe that most of these changes will be transparent to your healthcare needs. If you have any questions, please contact our administrator, Darlene Nichols at 248-267-5050, select option 2.

Thank you for choosing Michigan Heart Group, in affiliation with William Beaumont Hospital for your healthcare services. We look forward to serving you now and in the future.

Very truly yours,

Beaumont Michigan Heart Group


Friday, July 12, 2013

BEAUMONT MICHIGAN HEART GROUP'S PHYSICIAN LIAISON IS HERE TO HELP YOU

Michigan Heart Group has a Physician Liaison on staff to assist with questions, concerns or problems you, your staff or your patients may have with our office.

Stacie Batur is available Monday through Thursday at (248) 267-5050 (x6509). She is often between two buildings or visiting referring physician offices. If you get her voice mail, please leave a message and she will call you back shortly. If you need to speak to her immediately you can reach her on her cell phone at (248) 765-4466.

Friday, July 5, 2013

WELCOMING MICHELLE FORCINA, PA-C AND DAWN MITCHELL, ACNP

Beaumont Michigan Heart Group would like to welcome two new physician extenders...

Michelle Forcina, Physician Assistant
Dawn Mitchell, Nurse Practitioner 

They will be joining our mid-level team of Cheryl Vincent, A.P.R.N.; Anita Juriga, A.P.R.N; Howard Hollinger, P.A.-C.; Debra Goodall, A.P.R.N; Mariann Graham, Nurse Clinician; and Lilly Paciorkowski, Nurse Clinician.

Michelle comes to us with a background in Cardiac Electrophysiology.  She has primarily worked with Electrophysiologist and Device Clinics for the last seven years. She will be office based and seeing patients out of Beaumont's Michigan Heart Rhythm Group, working closely with our device specialist Jan Halash and Amy Douglas as well as Drs. Cragg, Williamson and Kutinsky.

Dawn has worked for William Beaumont Hospital in several different capacities over the last 30 years and we are lucky to have her as part of our team.  Her main focus for the last 20 years has been Cardiology where she has learned the many different arenas it has to offer.  Dawn will primarily be seeing patients in the hospital however will most likely also see patients in the office as space and time allow.

We are very fortunate to have found these two wonderful additions to our team.  They look forward to meeting you and we hope you look forward to meeting them.

Thank you!
The Beaumont Michigan Heart Group Physicians

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

2013 BEAUMONT MICHIGAN HEART GROUP HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Beaumont Michigan Heart Group closes in observance of all the major holiday'sThe 2013 days are listed below.  We ask, in order to ensure your prescriptions are refilled in time, please call at least one week prior to the holiday.  Calls taken after 10:00 am, the day before closing, are not guaranteed to be called in.

Monday
May 27, 2013
Memorial Day
Thursday
July 4, 2013
Independence Day
Monday
September 2, 2013
Labor Day
Thursday
November 28, 2013
Thanksgiving
Friday
November 29, 2013 
Day after Thanksgiving
Tuesday
December 24, 2013
Christmas Eve
Wednesday
December 25, 2013
Christmas Day
Tuesday
December 31, 2013
New Year’s Eve (1/2 day)
Wednesday
January 1, 2014
New Year’s Day


Thank you:
The Beaumont Michigan Heart Group Staff

Monday, July 1, 2013

NEW NOVI OFFICE, NOW OPEN!

We are happy to announce that our Western Wayne Heart Group office has moved to a new location at 10 Mile and Haggerty, in Novi.  We are only 5 minutes away from the old location.

39500 Ten Mile Road
Suite 103
Novi, MI 48375
Phone: (248) 267-5050
Fax: (248) 267-5051

Please see the link below for directions for our old office in Livonia to the new office in Novi.
http://goo.gl/maps/6h7hq

The move was made for several reasons.  Primarily when we enter the Physician Service Agreement (PSA) with Beaumont we needed to follow Joint Commission standards.  Several of which, unfortunately, were not able to be met within the buildings structure.  The move allowed us to meet Joint Commission standards in addition too upgrading to state of the art equipment.

We hope you are as happy with our new Novi home as we are.  Should you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to call our Physician Liaison Stacie Batur.  She can help stream line communications between referring physicians, bring cards to your office (if you're a physician), or simply answer a question.  She can be reached at the numbers below:

Office: (248) 267-5050 (x6509); Primarily Mondays and Thursdays
Mobile: (248)765-4466;  Tuesdays and Wednesdays