Dr. Dean Kereiakes on the Future of Heart and Vascular Care

Dean J. Kereiakes, MD, medical director for both the Heart and Vascular Center and the Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education at The Christ Hospital, met with Venue Magazine to discuss the current heart and vascular care available at The Christ Hospital. 

LEAD Cincinnati: How is the changing climate of healthcare affecting the industry and patient care?

Dr. Kereiakes: In the face of declining reimbursement, many institutions are commoditizing their services, having a limited number of treatment options for patients with technology too often determined by product price. There is less incentive to provide patients (or doctors) with access to a wide array of choices.

LC: Why is it important for patients to familiarize themselves with their local treatment options?

DK: For years, we have been approached by so many patients who find out – only after going to Cleveland, Houston, Atlanta, etc. – that we not only have the same technology available right here at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, we often have a larger experience with that new technology than the place to which they traveled. It is critical that patients understand the broad spectrum of advanced care avail- able right here at The Christ Hospital.

LC: How does the level of heart and vascular care at The Christ Hospital differ from other local and regional hospitals?

DK: By far, we have the most leading edge technology and expertise available from nationally recognized experts. The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Center and The Lindner Research Center offer the only comprehensive, multi-disciplinary programs for disease management of advanced heart failure, valvular heart disease, resistant high blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension (among others) in the region.

LC: What heart and vascular treatments will patients find at The Christ Hospital that they will not find anywhere else in the city?

DK: We are the only center in the region to offer the latest generation of transcatheter heart valves (not commercially available) and tran- scatheter mitral valve repair. These leading-edge, minimally invasive treatments allow aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair in patients with increased surgical risk without open-heart surgery. We offer multiple devices to help treat advanced heart failure including mechanical assist devices as well as ventricular partitioning devices to treat aneurysms in the heart and prevent progressive heart enlargement. We have more adult stem cell therapies to repair or replace damaged heart muscle and to treat the failing heart than any other institution in Ohio. The Christ Hospital is the only institution in the region to offer a dissolvable coronary stent. Honestly, the list goes on and on.

LC: Are there any new treatment options or technology being used at The Christ Hospital since we spoke last?

DK: Groundbreaking heart valve technology, including the Lotus self-expanding repostitional, valve and Sapien 3 valve, used with minimally invasive transcatheter treatment. We were only the second center in the U.S. to use either of these new aortic valve therapies, which are only available locally at The Christ Hospital. This is potentially life-saving information for patients with severe aortic stenosis.

 The Christ Hospital is located at 2139 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219. More information is available at TheChristHospital.com. For an appointment with a cardiologist close to home, call 1-866-344-6482.