Tag Archive - Fellows of Heart Rhythm Society

Heart Rhythm Society Launches AFib Public Service Announcement

June 22, 2011 in AFIB, Heart, Heart Rhythm with 0 Comments

If you’ve been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the heart rhythm disturbance that affects 3-5% of people over the age of 65, you know exactly what it feels like. Many AF patients describe a feeling like “a fish flopping” or “drums pounding” in the chest. But unless you’ve been in AF, it’s difficult to describe the symptoms. The problem is, Atrial Fibrillation significantly increases the risk for stroke. And if a person doesn’t know what AF feels like, they can’t tell when they’re in danger. Untreated AF can also decrease quality of life and physical stamina, and, in some cases, it can even weaken the heart muscle itself.

 

That’s why the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) has launched a television and radio campaign to educate the public about AF, its symptoms and its warning signs. The Public Service Announcement, dubbed “A-Fib Feels Like…” began airing on television stations in the U.S. in May. According to HRS, the campaign is “designed to help the public understand what AF feels like, help them recognize symptoms and to encourage them to seek the support of a doctor to discuss possible treatment options.” The Society has also designated September as AF Month. Check back right here for more info on that in the coming months.

 

The good news is, there are a variety of treatment options available for AF patients, including mediation, catheter ablation, surgery, and pacemaker therapy. To request an appointment with one of the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute’s AF expert physicians, or to simply get more information on AFib from on of our nurses, fill out our on-line Request an Appointment form or visit the “Atrial Fibrillation” section of the Heart Rhythm Society’s website.

Happy viewing!

~ Jamie LaRue, RN

 

Three TCAI Staffers Awarded Highest Honor by Heart Rhythm Society

May 23, 2011 in AFIB, Heart, Heart Rhythm with 0 Comments

Ever wonder what all those letters after your doctor’s name stand for? Usually, they mean that a society of practitioners in his specialty has awarded him special distinction, or that he has special certification in a specific branch of medicine. For example, “MD, FACC” after your doctor’s name means that she’s a Medical Doctor and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

As of this month, three staff members at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute can tack a few more letters onto their own signatures. Barbara Thomas, RN (Director of Electrophysiology Services), Bai Rong, MD and Luigi Di Biase, MD, PhD (TCAI Research Fellows) were all inducted as Fellows of the Heart Rhythm Society (FHRS) at the 2011 Heart Rhythm Society conference in San Francisco.

Fellowship in the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) is bestowed the most esteemed members of the society for “significant achievements, service, and prominence in the field of cardiac arrhythmia.” Fellows are elected by vote and must receive letters of support from two current fellows. Candidates must be active in HRS committees, hold certification in their specialty, and have contributed to or written at least five publications, two of which must be in peer-reviewed journals.

“This distinction is a great honor,” said Barbara Thomas, RN, after her induction. “Dr. Bai, Dr. Di Biase, and I join the ranks of the world’s most respected electrophysiologists by becoming Fellows.”

Sure, it will take a little more time for these three electrophysiology super stars to write their signatures, but something tells me the honor is worth it.
~ Jamie LaRue, RN