Responding to the Needs of Seniors for Heart Care

The Presbyterian Senior Heart Center is the first cardiovascular program in New Mexico dedicated solely to the care of the aging heart.

Our focus is on primary care, research, education, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Seniors can access the services provided within the Senior Heart Center through their primary care physician, through their cardiologists, and through classes and rehabilitation programs at the Presbyterian Healthplex.

The Presbyterian Heart Group also publishes a series of heart education pamphlets called "Two Billion Beats" which provides individuals with information about preventing, recognizing and treating heart disease.

What Our Patients Say

Presbyterian Heart Center is the only New Mexico heart hospital ranked among the 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals for Interventional Cardiology in the nation. Continuing its 30 year tradition of excellence the physicians and staff of Presbyterian Heart Center developed the Senior Heart Center to emphasize the role of primary care and prevention in the control of heart disease for seniors.
Seniors are responding positively to the idea of a specialized heart program just for them.

Mike, a 74 year old cardiology patient knows how helpful the right information can be. "Until I had my heart attack I thought I was bullet proof, but I'm not. I never thought about my heart being anything but good. 

Bruce, 75, says most people are frightened when they experience heart problems. "What helped me was the support I got from the specialists at the Presbyterian Healthplex, and more important was working with people in my peer group, the sharing that comes from being around other patients, all of us working hard to get better."

Byron, 83, says "I'm glad there's a program especially designed for a special group. It's time that somebody recognized that seniors have a different set of heart problems than a 45 year old."

Services

Prevention and Education

Through education and screening, the Senior Heart Center raises the awareness of seniors to their personal risk for heart disease.

Heart health screenings are available to assess risk factors. The patient then receives options to control or eliminate those risks in collaboration with their primary care physician. If further testing is indicated, the Senior Heart Center uses the latest screening technology. Sub-second CT Scans as well as Nuclear Imaging technologies are some of the advanced tools used for early detection of heart risk and heart disease.

The physicians and staff of the Senior Heart Center know that patient education and patient involvement in care can improve cardiac health and quality of life for seniors. Through educational publications and seminars the Senior Heart Center provides in-depth information about the causes and treatment of heart disease.

A library and reading room are located at Presbyterian Healthplex to help seniors learn more about preventing heart disease.

Research

The Senior Heart Center is leading a statewide research project to assess heart disease risk levels for New Mexicans over 65 years old. The research invites all seniors in New Mexico to participate in the study.  The information gained will be used to determine primary care and prevention needs among seniors, and to develop customized programs for this population. The study results will provide definitive information on the cardiovascular health of New Mexico seniors and will be shared with the entire medical community.

Treatment

For seniors with diagnosed heart disease, quality heart care is provided. From diagnosis through rehabilitation, the staff cardiologists and cardiac surgeons of the Presbyterian Heart Center are available to the senior heart patient. As a result of research-based clinical improvements at Presbyterian, new techniques are currently being used for managing Congestive Heart Failure. The results are dramatic: CHF patients at Presbyterian are 30% less likely to be readmitted to the hospital (when compared to national benchmarks of the Cardiology Roundtable). The in-hospital mortality rate for CHF patients is lower by 4%. New state-of-the-art technology exists throughout our center providing: 

• The highest quality X-ray systems
• Enhanced cardiac diagnostic ultra-sound imaging. Cardiac interventions
• Cardiac electrophysiology and pacing
• Expanded surgical support systems

The Senior Heart Center uses a multidisciplinary approach to care that significantly improves outcomes. Because Presbyterian is a full-service community hospital, all of its resources are available to ensure the best treatment and care for the senior patient.

Senior Heart Center Lead Physician

Dan Friedman, M.D.