“This is the latest technology and most advanced

procedure available at this time for

treating patients in the field of

electrophysiology.”– Abdul Alawwa, M.D., FACC,

a board certified cardiac electrophysiologist

Continued on page 2

Connection

Time, technology and training. These are the key components that contributed to making a new cardiac procedure available for patients at McLaren Regional Medical Center. Called 3-D atrial fibrillation ablation, this procedure is utilized to correct irregular heart rhythm in specific patients. The first such procedure was performed at McLaren by Abdul Alawwa, M.D., FACC, a board certified cardiac electrophysiologist, on June 5, 2008.

After completion of two new state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs at McLaren this spring, the medical center purchased and installed special equipment to support the new procedure. The new technology is a mapping system that helps the electrophysiologist

navigate through the heart to map out the tissue that is causing the problem. Staff working in the cath labs also received special training to be a part of the procedure.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF), is the most common type of irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. With AF, the heart’s electrical impulses are irregular and rapid, and, as a result, so are the heartbeats. At rest, a normal heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute. This normal rhythm is known as sinus rhythm. At some point in our lives, each of us feels a skip of a beat or a rapid pulse. This is a normal response to excitement or stress; however, some people develop an ongoing pattern of quick, disorganized heartbeats. During AF, the upper chambers of the heart

Pictured l-r are five of the staff who participated in McLaren’s first 3-D Atrial Fibrillation Ablation they are: Beth Bungard, Cardiovascular Tech; Trista Powell, Cardiovascular Tech; Abdul Alawwa, M.D., Electrophysiologist; Todd Harmon, Cardiovascular Tech; and Terri Hawk R.N.

A Monthly Publication of McLaren Regional Medical Center Volume 8, Issue 8 September 2008

What’s Inside...Therapy Patient Keeping Others Out of Harms Way ......4

LASIK Vision Correction Available Blade-free ..............5

Family Fun Day .......................6

McLaren Heart and Vascular Team Performs Region’s First 3-D A-Fib Ablation

McLaren Heart and Vascular Team Performs Region’s First 3-D A-Fib Ablation Continued fRoM PAge 1

Jeff Frost (pictured above) was

back home the day after some of his heart tissue was treated with

heat so it could no longer misfire, and he was back working as a nurse in the operating room at McLaren just

one week after the procedure.

This is a computer-generated image of

one of the 3-D Atrial Fibrillation Ablations

that Dr. Alawwa has performed. The red dots indicate all of

the places tissue was treated with heat so

it could no longer misfire.

beat 300 to 600 times per minute, making them appear to quiver or fibrillate. This makes it difficult for the chambers to empty because the atria beat so quickly that they are unable to fully contract and pump blood properly. When blood is not pumped completely out of the atria, it may pool and clot. This puts someone at risk for a stroke as even the smallest clot can travel to the brain.

Atrial Fibrillation is the world’s most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting more than 2.2 million Americans. Each year approximately 160,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with the condition. AF becomes more prevalent in persons over the age of 65, and the median age of an AF patient is 75. There are three types of AF. Paroxysmal AF (or Lone AF) often comes

on suddenly and ends spontaneously. Persistent AF will persist if left untreated. If medications and lifestyle changes do not correct it, invasive treatment options are pursued. Permanent AF (Chronic AF) is diagnosed when the regular rhythm of the heart cannot be restored. Medications can be used, or ablation may be recommended as treatment. AF puts someone not only at risk of stroke but also heart failure and it can greatly reduce one’s quality of life.

With atrial fibrillation ablation, the process patients go through to prepare for the procedure includes a chest CT. This allows the physician to look at the patient’s pulmonary veins. These veins extend from the left atrium, the upper part of the heart, to the lungs. Their function is to carry

oxygenated blood from the lungs to the atrium, and these veins are what trigger the atrium to go into AF.

Next, the patient undergoes a Computed Tomography (CT) Angiography. Then, it is time for the procedure itself. Catheters are inserted into veins on both sides of the groin and up into the heart. On one side are the diagnostic catheters used to locate the tissue causing the AF. On the other side are ablation catheters used to destroy the bad tissue. Now the 3-D mapping comes in to play using the NAVX system. The CT imaging obtained prior to surgery is transferred to the NAVX system, which puts the CT over a true picture of the heart. The two together show precisely the connection of the pulmonary

veins to the left atrium. The work then begins to isolate the abnormal tissue in the veins from the left atrium. This is done using radio-frequency energy delivered through the ablation catheter. The small area of heart tissue is heated by the energy creating a tiny scar. As a result, this tissue is no longer capable of conducting or sustaining the arrhythmia.

“This is the latest technology and most advanced procedure available at this time for treating patients in the field of electrophysiology,” said Dr. Alawwa. “Achieving this is a dream come true for me, and it would not have been possible without the efforts of the heart and vascular team. I appreciate everyone one of them and thank them for making this happen.”

Jeff Frost, age 38 of Mundy Township, was a good candidate for the atrial fibrillation ablation for the following reasons. The opening to his left atrium was close to normal size (less than 5 cm), and he had not had an AF problem for a long period of time. People who have had the condition for a year or less have a better chance of success with the procedure.

Frost says he was noticing heart flutters for the past several years but ignored them until 2007. It was determined at that time that he should have an ablation, which he did in March of last year. Over time, he continued to notice funny heartbeats and was put on medicine. He still continued to notice irregular heartbeats, especially in the morning, so he went for more testing this year. Finally, a holter monitor identified atrial fibrillation. With medicine not keeping his heart beating normally, he was given the option of the new 3-D atrial fibrillation procedure.

Continued on page 8

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Michigan Senator Carl Levin asked many questions and expressed how impressed he was with the upgraded and greatly expanded Emergency Department during a visit to MRMC on Wednesday, August 13.

Ray Rudoni, M.D., Medical Director of McLaren’s E.D.,

extended the invitation for Senator Levin to tour the facility due to the senator’s involvement in healthcare issues including his work with Congress to reverse a planned 10% cut in Medicare reimbursement. Levin was also an avid supporter of the “Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2007.” This bill was created by the

American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in response to a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that America’s Emergency Departments were at a breaking point. The legislation has created a bipartisan commission to examine all factors affecting access to emergency services for patients.

Senator Impressed with McLaren’s New E.D.

L-r are: Donna Seeley, Nursing Director of Emergency Services, Senator Carl Levin and Joan Maten, Vice President of Nursing.

GLCI-McLaren Hosts Nutrition FairThe 8th Annual Health and Nutrition Fair held at GLCI-McLaren on August 19 drew a record number of visitors.

Tricia Young, registered dietician on staff at GLCI-McLaren, answered questions and provided informational materials and nutritional samples to McLaren patients, visitors and employees. Representatives from Coram, Apria, Medical Nutrition USA, and Abbott Nutrition staffed informational tables at the health fair. The event gave Young an opportunity to answer questions regarding meeting the specific

nutritional needs of cancer patients as well as create awareness of some of the helpful products available.

The Great Lakes Cancer Institute would like to give a special Thank-You to Beverly Hoag, Cancer Center Volunteer, for her assistance and exceptional organization at the fair.

Tricia Young, RD, discusses nutritional

options with health fair attendee

�

Mike Whysall, age 42 of Flint, is a reluctant hero, but helping others just seems to come naturally to him. His last act of heroism occurred on February 8, 2008 and has changed his life forever. Mike was a semi truck driver at the time, traveling twice a week back and forth from Detroit to Miami. While on Interstate 77 in Charlotte, North Carolina that day, Mike suddenly saw several cars ahead of him slamming on their breaks. He knew he could not stop safely in time, so to avoid hitting the other vehicles he turned the wheel hard to the left. The truck turned over on the driver’s side and rode the guardrail, which cut through the truck. His head ended up on the guardrail and the steering wheel in his chest. It took 45 minutes to get him out of the truck, but he succeeded in sparing anyone else harm. The accident made CNN news.

Whysall noted he died twice on the way to the hospital. He remembers that he could not see, talk, or move, but he could hear and he was freezing cold. He was hospitalized for less than 24 hours, and then sent to a hotel for two days because the hospital could not reach his insurance company. On February 11 he flew home to

Flint. With no family physician, a friend suggested to his wife that he contact McLaren Internal Medicine specialist Sami Asmar, M.D. His first visit with Dr. Asmar was February 20. Mike’s life has been one appointment after another ever since. He keeps everything logged in a book, in part because of the trouble he is having with his memory. He became a McLaren Head Injury patient in March, when he began a physical, occupational, and speech therapy program. He has been spending four days a week, three hours a day trying to recover ever since.

Whysall is overcoming the weakness on his right side and the stuttering the accident brought on but he is still experiencing head pain, blood pressure fluctuations and memory problems. Angela Herrman is Mike’s speech pathologist. She helps not only with his stuttering but also with his thought organization. He is even given homework, some things to work on by himself, and others with his wife, Marta.

“Mike is really compliant; he does everything right away, and that makes a big difference in seeing results quicker,” states Herrman.

“He works very hard, is very motivated, and has a great sense of humor. He is wonderful to work with.”

His therapists are not the only ones singing his praises. The Mayor of Flint declared June 25, 2008 Mike Whysall Day. City officials, several police officers, and Whysall’s therapists gathered at Luigi’s Restaurant to honor him. He was given a proclamation and a key to the city. Prior to truck driving he was a paramedic, and he founded Save Our Streets in the City of Flint so he has many friends in the Flint Police Department. Save Our Streets set up many neighborhood crime watch groups, and Whysall has become a resource to residents who have complaints and crime tips. Through his law enforcement contacts, he makes sure information is passed along and followed up on; all of which has resulted in hundreds of arrests.

“Truck driving is now in my past, but hopefully, the police academy is in my future,” states Whysall. “I have the best therapists here at the McLaren Head Injury Program. With their help, and my wife’s, I know I will get better.”

Therapy Patient Keeping Others Out of Harms Way

(Pictured above) Mike’s friends,

family and therapists honored him on Mike

Whysall day back in June. Pictured are back row l-r:

David Dicks, Interim Flint Police Chief;

Angel Herrman, Speech Language Pathologist; Mike

Whysall; Mollie Royce, Head

Injury Program Patient Service Representative;

and officer Connie Johnson. Front row l-r: Helen Gerhardt,

Occupational Therapist; Kelly Leavy, Physical

Therapist; and Brooke Belanger, Head Injury

Program Supervisor.

“I have the best therapists here at the McLaren

Head Injury Program. With their help, and

my wife’s, I know I will get

better.”– Mike Whysall, patient

�LASIK Vision Correction Available Blade-free

Dr. Jeffrey Rohr demonstrates features of the excimer laser located at his Grand Blanc Center. Here, temperature and humidity are strictly controlled for optimal laser performance.

Rohr Eye and Laser Center is the first facility in the state of Michigan to offer Blade-Free LASIK. Dr. Jeffrey S. Rohr, a member of the McLaren medical staff and the Medical Director and Chief Surgeon at Rohr Eye & Laser Center in Grand Blanc and Saginaw, recently began offering the All-Laser, Blade-Free vision correction procedure with the addition of the Ziemer FEMTO LDV™ laser.

LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure to correct vision problems by gently reshaping the cornea. Traditionally, the first step in a LASIK procedure is to use a bladed device, called a microkeratome, to create a small protective flap of corneal tissue. After the flap is created, an excimer laser applies a cool beam of light to reshape the cornea. The protective flap is placed back in its original position and begins healing.

Instead of using a blade, the Ziemer laser uses short pulses of invisible light energy to separate the layers of corneal tissue, creating a custom corneal flap.

“We are pleased to offer our patients such a sophisticated

system for vision correction,” stated Dr. Rohr. “In addition to the Ziemer laser which creates the corneal flap, Technoles®, the area’s only permanent excimer laser, provides superior results reshaping the cornea through its “flying spot” technology.”

The flying spot technology uses blended pulses of light to treat farther out on the cornea, creating a broader and smoother correction area. According to Dr. Rohr, the procedure provides an unprecedented level of safety.

“The new system allows for better post-operative visual results,” stated Dr. Rohr. “Because it is tremendously user-friendly and easier for a technician to assist in the procedure, I prefer Ziemer over other laser technologies available.”

Dr. Rohr has extensive experience in vision correction surgery. He

completed a one-year training at the prestigious Colorado Eye Institute in 1999. He opened Rohr Eye Institute and Laser Center in 2000 and has treated several thousand patients.

Anyone interested in the Blade-free LASIK procedure or financing options offered through the Center may visit their website at www.michiganlasik.com, or call (877) 579-0202.

Dr. Jeffrey S. Rohr

CongratulationsNaveed Iqbal, M.D., an internal medicine resident physician at MRMC, received top honors for his research at the Scientific assembly of Southern Medical Association held in Nashville, Tennessee in August 2008.

His case poster entitled, “Spontaneous Recurrent Multivessel Coronary Vasospasm Leading to Cardiac Arrest in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patient” won first prize.

Naveed Iqbal, M.D.

CorrectionThe 2008 Student Nurse Technicians announcement in the August issue of Connection showed the incorrect photo for student nurse tech Malinda Currie. Malinda is a student nurse tech on 7 South.

Malinda Currie

�

McLaren’s Second Annual Family Fun Day was held on Saturday, August 9, at Faith Missionary Church in Flint Township. Thanks to the “A Little Change Makes A Difference Committee” members, the extra volunteers who turned out, dietary services, our D.J. Ronald Madison, the church for allowing us to use their facilities and property for the event, and to everyone who came and enjoyed the activities. The event featured our first classic car show, a dunk tank, kids games, softball, music, great food, and of course fun. The event raised $800, matched with an additional $800 by the McLaren Foundation. The Employee campaign has raised close to $15,000, which will go toward building a patio area outside of the cafeteria.

Family Fun Day

Kelley Jolly, Kelvin Wilbon and Jasmin Clark. Kelvin is credited with making the Classic Car Show become a reality at this year’s Family Fun Day.

Cheryl Wieber, Director of Heart and

Vascular Services, came prepared for her

time in the dunk tank.

Pictured back left is Roneeka, Nate and Nehemiah Pleasant trying their skills at cupstacking . Behind the table are volunteers Danyetta and Britani Henry.

�

Staff from the cardiac catheterization lab and Cardiovascular Care Unit (CVCU) tested their competencies in July at the second annual Heart and Vascular skills fair. The fair is held in the auditorium over a three-day period. Cath Lab staff answered questions at every display, while other employees go through the stations that apply to their specific areas of expertise. The displays include many of the devices and monitoring equipment used on the floor, as well as some of the delicate procedures performed. The department is committed to holding the event annually as one of its ongoing efforts to provide quality patient care.

Heart and Vascular Holds Annual Skills Fair

Pictured front to back are Barb Bishop, RN and Debbie Earl, RN at the sheath competency assessment display, one of many hands on stations at the skills fair.

Dietary Services employees took on a team representing Administration in a seven-inning softball game. And the winner was. . .Nutritional Services.

Sydney and Gloria Vega try their hand at Hula Hooping .

This 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V owned by David and Linda Linear won McLaren’s first annual Family Fun Day Classic Car Show.

ConnectionA monthly publication for employees and friends of McLaren Regional Medical Center. donald Kooy, President and Ceo,McLaren Regional Medical CenterManaging Editor: Laurie Prochazka,director of Marketing CommunicationsEditor:ellen Peter, Marketing Communications SpecialistContributing Writers:Sherry Stewart, ellen Peter, Laurie Prochazka, and contributions from McLaren employeesPhotography:ted Klopf, and contributions from McLaren employeesDesign:Shamiah Specht, graphic designer,McLaren Art departmentPrinting:McLaren graphics departmentWe welcome comments, suggestions, and ideas: ellenp@mclaren.org or call (810) 342-4478

For more information call (810) 342-5558.

MISSON: McLaren Health Care, through its subsidiaries, will be Michigan’s best value in healthcare as defined by quality outcomes and cost.

Community Connection

Blood Drive

November 25

Mark Your

Calendars!

Blood Drive The American Red Cross invite all MRMC employees and visitors who qualify to donate blood at the upcoming blood drive held in Ballenger Auditorium on Tuesday, November 25. Help us achieve our goal of 35 pints!

mclarenregional.org

McLaren’s Therapy Services Now Offering a Comprehensive Women’s Health ProgramMcLaren Therapy Services is now offering a comprehensive Women’s Health Program that includes help with any of the following health issues: incontinence, pelvic/vaginal pain, prenatal and postpartum musculoskeletal pain, osteoporosis, rehabilitation following breast surgery, lymphedema, education, prevention, wellness, and exercise. Two physical therapists are leading this program.

Physical therapist Annette Nickel is certified in treatment of lymphedema and osteoporosis. She works out of McLaren’s Flushing location where she offers weekly education in conjunction with the Breast Cancer Program at the Great Lakes Cancer Institute-McLaren. Annette also utilizes the Sara Meeks Method for postural change as the basis for osteoporosis treatment. Physical therapist Lisa Priestap specializes in treatment of urinary/bowel incontinence, pelvic pain, and pregnancy related complications. She is available to see patients at McLaren Regional Medical Center.

Both therapists are active in the American Physical Therapy Association. Annette is involved with its geriatrics, aquatics and orthopedics sections and Lisa with the women’s health section.

McLaren offers therapy services in Davison, Fenton, Flint and Flushing. For more information about these new programs, or to schedule an evaluation, please call (810) 342-5558.

Annette Nickel

“I’m an O.R. nurse so I was a little apprehensive about having the procedure done because you have to be under anesthesia for several hours,” he said, “but I don’t like taking medicine, and it wasn’t working anyway, so I decided to do it.”

Frost has an 80% chance of his AF being cured. A three-month window of time has to pass to know for sure if the procedure was a success. Dr. Alawwa will not determine if Jeff will need a second ablation until at least mid-October.

For now Jeff is feeling well and enjoying time with his wife, Amy, and their three small children.

McLaren Heart and Vascular Team Performs Region’s First 3-D A-Fib Ablation Continued fRoM PAge 2