Atrium Health Navicent Offers New Targeted Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation
Atrium Health Navicent is now offering a new treatment for patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), which minimizes risk and targets areas of the heart associated with abnormal heart rhythms. This summer, Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center became the only hospital in central Georgia to offer FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation for the treatment of AFib.
“Health care is constantly evolving and we’re proud to be on the leading edge, offering new technology that reduces risk for patients suffering from AFib, helping them to live healthier, fuller lives,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Sanford G. Duke.
AFib, is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. Over 33 million people ages 55 and older have been diagnosed globally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). AFib causes 454,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S. By year 2030, about 12 million people in the U.S. will have AFib. AFIb causes about 1 in 7 strokes.
The FARAPULSE system is a new alternative to traditional thermal ablation, which is commonly used to treat patients with AFib. During a traditional ablation procedure, a catheter is guided to the interior of the heart and generates extreme temperatures to destroy targeted areas in the heart associated with abnormal heart rhythms. FARAPULSE, however, relies on tissue selective, non-thermal, electric fields to eliminate heart tissue and avoid damage to surrounding areas.
“Procedures using the FARAPULSE system are quicker, reducing the time patients spend under anesthesia, and give surgeons an additional tool so we can be more precise,” said Dr. Felix Sogade, Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center’s AFib medical director. “Precision and shorter procedure times result in safer treatment and better outcomes for our patients.”
Atrium Health Navicent is one of only four hospital systems in the nation — and the only one in Georgia — to receive the triple crown of heart accreditations by the American College of Cardiology. These designations include Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation, Heart Failure Accreditation and Atrial Fibrillation with EPS Accreditation. Atrium Health Navicent was one of the first in the region to implement another treatment for AFib, the Watchman device, and is one of only two locations south of Atlanta, and the only one in our region, to offer Transaortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
Patients interested in learning more about FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation are encouraged to have a conversation with their doctor. To find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org and click “Find A Doctor.”
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.