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Carson Tahoe HealthThis June, a new physician, Dr. Jeffrey Turner, will join our Cardiology team, bringing an entirely new field of heart care—Cardiac Electrophysiology (Cardiac EP)—to our region. Electrophysiologists are the “electricians” of the heart, diagnosing and treating abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, such as Atrial Fibrillation (also known as A-Fib) and Atrial Flutter.
As the human heart beats, it pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body, and carries away carbon dioxide and waste products. In a weakened or damaged heart, the electrical impulses of the heart may not function properly, leading to an irregular heartbeat. With state-of-the-art equipment and diagnostic tools, the faulty electrical impulses can be diagnosed and treated.
An important procedure that will be a part of this new program is called ablation: “We access the heart from the veins with tools called catheters to map the electrical system of the heart and treat abnormal pathways,” explains Dr. Turner. During an ablation, energy in the form of heat or cold can be delivered through a catheter to correct heart rhythm problems.
While many arrhythmias are not dangerous, some can lead to serious complications including blot clots, heart failure, stroke, and even death. Dr. Turner explains that modern technology is helping people with detection: “With new devices that monitor your heart, like Apple watches, people can often see that there is a problem themselves, sometimes previously misdiagnosed as panic attacks or anxiety because many of the symptoms are similar.”
Dr. Turner, who has a background in Biomedical Engineering in addition to medicine, shares what drew him to the field of Cardiac Electrophysiology: “I love my job. The work is multidisciplinary and treatment is very personalized. While it is procedural, Cardiac Electrophysiology presents a nice combination of intellectual problems. The field is constantly changing,” he says. With the new Cardiac EP program at Carson Tahoe, our community will now have access to the latest diagnostic tools and expertise.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Around 655,000 Americans die from heart disease every year – or 1 in every 4 deaths. Given these grim numbers, it has never been more important to have access to a comprehensive heart health program, with prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment options.
With the addition of the Cardiac EP program, Carson Tahoe will have a comprehensive heart care program, ensuring greater continuity of care for our patients. Dr. Turner will join a dynamic team of heart health specialists and specialties, including board certified Cardiologists, Interventional Cardiology Services, Open Heart Surgery, a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, a Congestive Heart Failure Clinic, and HeartSmart screenings. Stay tuned for more information on Carson Tahoe Health’s new Cardiac Electrophysiology program this June, and check out carsontahoe.com/heart for a full listing of our current heart programs.
Caleb Vasquez
