Arkansas Heart Hospital is the only hospital in Little Rock to receive the prestigious Five-Star Overall Hospital rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Arkansas Heart Hospital is one of 293 hospitals nationwide and one of two in Arkansas to receive this distinction.

“We are honored by this recognition,” said President Drew Jackson “our patients are treated like family from the moment they walk in the door. This distinction is not possible without the dedication, commitment, and hard work of our staff and physicians. Every department, every employee is essential to our organization. Our mission is to provide extraordinary service, this honor reaffirms that commitment,” said Jackson.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides the rankings for hospitals across the country. The public information is provided to empower patients, families and stakeholders with important information they need to compare hospitals and make informed healthcare decisions. The Star Ratings drive systematic improvements in care and safety as hospitals strive to achieve and maintain high ratings. For a comparable list of hospitals in Arkansas, please visit here.

Our culture is oversaturated with fad diets that promise weight loss and body change. But how do you know which diets work — and which ones don’t? Dietician Shelby Pierceall is in today to share her expertise on the good fad diets, but more importantly, how to establish a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle when it comes to food.

Heart disease kills more people than all cancers combined. And while it’s well-known that men commonly suffer from heart disease — it is still the number 1 killer for women as well. In fact, one in three women will experience a heart attack or stroke in their lifetime. We have Dr. Monica Lo, an interventional cardiologist, who is in today to talk about what symptoms to look for — and how they differ from what men might experience — and why you shouldn’t ignore those symptoms or leave them untreated.

Today we’re excited to have Dr. Andre Paixao, a renowned expert in preventive and interventional cardiology, in the studio. He shares his insights for how you can make wise choices to prevent heart disease and maximize your health, including how intense you need to exercise regularly. Dr. Paixao also talks about his favorite diets, for health and for taste, and other foods that make a great impact on your heart.

Did you know 30% of the world’s population has a hole in their heart? Most are silent and never cause an issue, but for some it could lead to a stroke. Today Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Vijay Raja joins us to talk about adult congenital heart defects, what you should know and if you might be at risk. He also provides some additional information on A-fib and some of the new procedures being performed at Arkansas Heart Hospital. 
 

Intensive Cardiac Rehab Celebrates Participants

Arkansas Heart Hospital is proud to announce a special event where graduates of its Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation program will be honored this Saturday, February 9 at 10 a.m.

In the three years of the StrongHearts program, nearly 1,000 patients have graduated. “The program gives patients control of their life again,” said Christine Alongi, Director of Intensive Cardiac Rehab. “Most patients could not walk from the parking lot to the front door. Now they can walk confidently and in some cases no longer use their walkers or canes.”

What makes Arkansas Heart Hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation unique is it is intensive. Participants exercise in a monitored environment, are provided tools on nutrition, and learn how to cook for their new lifestyle. “The program was designed to bring success to patients. A lot of lives are being impacted in central Arkansas, they now have an improved quality of life, decreased their risk of another cardiac event and are enjoying life on their terms,” said Alongi.

Graduates will be available to share their stories with local media. The event will take place in the parking lot of the Arkansas Heart Hospital Clinic, located at 7 Shackleford West Boulevard.

Know the risks that lead to heart disease — and the lifestyle choices you can make to prevent it. Today, we have self-professed “heart plumber” and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Gary Nash in the studio to share his top tips to minimize your chances for heart disease, such as quitting smoking and losing weight, and how to recognize the symptoms of poor heart health. He also breaks down misconceptions about heart disease and cholesterol.

 

 

Knowing the state of your cardiac health — and where that health is headed — can empower you to make better decisions for your life. With the Keep the Beat program, we’ve developed a comprehensive screening involving nine diagnostics and nutritional counseling that only takes around two hours to perform. Lindsay Roberts RT(R), RCIS, director of Arkansas Heart Hospital’s Clinic Cath Lab and CT and Keep the Beat departments, is here to tell us more about the benefits of this screening and how it can help you live a better life.

Resolutions. Goals. Lifestyle changes. Making good habits. The new year brings a renewed focus on health, wellness and living more actively. That renewed focus, however, can be difficult to maintain when so many Americans spend their 8-5 jobs sitting in a chair, staring at a screen. We’ve brought in Employee Wellness Director Dr. Eric Martin to share his recommendations for wellness programs aimed at keeping that renewed focus on health for the whole body.

 

Let’s talk about anxiety and depression, two disorders with a lot of overlap that affects millions of Americans. We’ve brought on the hospital’s Director of Psychology  Dr. Urmi Jani, to lead our discussion — talking about symptoms, misconceptions and treatments.