FMC’s Electrophysiology Team poses in hybrid operating room (Pictured from left to right: Brandee Stemen, Dr. Michael Reinig, Ashlee Skibinski, Erin Hoffman, Dr. Alexander Hattoum, Maddy Burt, Megan Iser and Sara Crispin)
Fairfield Medical Center’s comprehensive cardiovascular program is investing in technology to expand care and treatment options for patients with arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms.
Using the Abbott Ensite Mapping System – a tool that creates highly detailed, three-dimensional images of the heart’s electrical acitivity – FMC’s specialized cardiologists can now identify the source of rhythm disturbances with greater speed and accuracy than ever before. The ability to clearly pinpoint these “trigger areas” is leading to improved ablation outcomes and restoring health for many patients.
During the procedure, patients are placed under general anesthesia while minimally invasive catheters are guided to the heart. Sensors on these catheters help build a clear picture of where the physician should focus their treatment. Most commonly, ablations are performed using very hot or very cold energy to create scar tissue, blocking any irregular electrical signals responsible for disrupting the heart’s normal rhythm.
“The onboarding of a full-time electrophysiology team, including specially trained nurses and technicians, has been vital to this expansion,” said cardiac electrophysiologist Michael Reinig, DO. “It has been exciting to see patients receiving electrophysiology services that just six months ago required travel to Columbus or even further.”
As the population ages, the number of Americans impacted by abnormal heart rhythms is expected to grow. With millions in the nation already affected by conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib), the need for accessible, innovative and effective treatment options is clear.
“We can essentially become a one-stop arrhythmia center for the region,” said cardiac electrophysiologist Alexander Hattoum, MD, who recently joined the team at Fairfield Healthcare Professionals Cardiology. “This thriving growth aligns Fairfield Medical Center with the capabilities of major academic centers, and it’s all possible because of the collective effort of our dedicated staff, amazing care teams and collaborative physicians.”
Electrophysiologist Alexander Hattoum, MD, performs cardiac mapping procedure at FMC.