SCVPS

According to a CBS report, 40% of elective heart catheterizations, are unnecessary. In a survey, they found that 88% of the people surveyed, believed a heart cath would lengthen their life by about 10 years. Also, an expert  doctor who was interviewed, stated that having a heart cath, does not reduce your chances of having a heart attack. He also stated that these unnecessary heart caths do not help the patient and could possibly hurt them. Unfortunately, my twin-sister, Ann, died from a puncture that occurred during a heart cath and " misplaced stents", and then "failure to rescue". I am telling you this, to emphasize the dangers in heart caths. It is nothing to be taken lightly. But, this article, really brings up the question, "Are all these heart caths really necessary"....and the answer is definitely "NO!

 According to the report, they surveyed over a 150 hospitals and found,  that most patients did not really understand the procedure, they were having done...that they just trusted their doctors judgment. They suggested that if we had better consent forms, that these elective procedures, would be reduced by 30 - 40%. Here are some of the problems they found with current consent forms: 1- most patients do not understand what they are signing 2- Most consent forms were of limited value. 3- The consent forms contained confusing language. 4- Consent forms were missing many of the possible risks. 5- They were not standardized. 6- They were not well explained by doctors. 

The report listed several solutions.1- Videos are being used to inform patients about risks during the procedure. 2- Doctors need to involve patients in the decision making. 3-Doctors need to ask themselves, "Is this proceure right for this patient?"

Bottom line....not performing these unnecessary heart caths... provide...less risk....less waste.

As Patient Advocate on our SC Mission:Lifeline Steering Committee, for heart care,  I do want to emphasize that having an emergency heart cath, when you are threatening a heart attack CAN save your LIFE. I am very excited about this new initiative that we are working on, to make  heart patients safer in SC. It is not my intention to minimize the benefits, that these needed heart caths can provide, in saving a life, and preventing further damage..

This CBS video can be viewed  in full on our Resource page.

I have recently been asked to serve as Patient Advocate with Health Sciences SC. I am very much looking forward to this opportunity. One of the things we will be working on, is consent forms. Please pray that I will have wisdom in this endeavor.

God bless, Jan

* Note: There is a non-invasive, alternative method of viewing the arteries for blockages. It is a CT Scan, that is 98% accurate, according to Dr. Donald Alexander, Columbia Heart. The risk involved with this procedure is exposure to  radiation.