HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY PATIENT DELIVERS BABY AT 36 WEEKS AT NUMC, RECEIVING IMPLANTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR BY NUMC DISCIPLINARY TEAM, SAVING HER LIFE AND THAT OF HER BABY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2010
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY PATIENT DELIVERS BABY AT 36 WEEKS AT NUMC, RECEIVING IMPLANTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR BY NUMC DISCIPLINARY TEAM, SAVING HER LIFE AND THAT OF HER BABY
East Meadow, NY … Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, at a press conference on May 6, 2010, introduced the Nassau University Medical Center multidisciplinary team that saved the life of patient Anne Marie Ballato and her newborn baby Izabella, following delivery at 36 weeks and implantation of a defibrillator a few days later. The patient, deemed to be high risk and uninsured, had been turned away from other hospitals, once she was determined to be extremely high risk due to heart condition of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and her lack of funds or insurance.
“We are delighted and proud that our NUMC team comprised of obstetricians, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, nurses and technicians, by their expertise and compassion, were able to save the life of Ms. Ballato and newborn baby Izabella,” stated Gianelli. “Providing quality care to all regardless of ability to pay is what we have been committed to for the last seventy-five years, highlighting the vital importance of the NuHealth System for the residents of Long Island.”
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a hereditary disorder in which an abnormality of the heart muscle cells leads to an unregulated thickening and sometimes obstruction to the outflow of blood into the circulation. There is a risk of sudden death related to the rhythm disturbances. Some patients go on to having heart failure. The patient has several family members who died from this disorder.
The executive vice-president for medical affairs and medical director, Steven J. Walerstein, MD, FACP, indicated, “I am so proud of NUMC’s team of clinicians who used their expertise to save Ms. Ballato and her baby. Our partnership with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, which led to the recruitment of Dr. Doddamani as chair of cardiology in July 2009, has allowed us to strengthen our clinical services in cardiology. Last year at this time, we would not have been able to offer the defibrillator therapy for Ms. Ballato. Thanks to the elevation of the level of services that we can now provide, we are able to celebrate this success story.”
Through the NUMC multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Chaur-Dong Hsu, MD, MPH, FACOG, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology and Sanjay Doddamani, MD, FACC, FASE, chair of cardiology, the patient was afforded the expertise and professional collaboration needed to save her and her baby: “With our OB team’s great expertise and meticulous skills, as well as multidisciplinary team care, I was confident about the successful outcome of the management of mother and baby. I am truly honored to have collaborated with our multidisciplinary team in this life saving endeavor, a testament to providing the best care possible to those without access to care,” said Dr. Hsu.
Dr. Doddamani added: “What was so unique, was the quick and effective team work between maternal and heart specialists on one level at NUMC and on a second level the expertise of importing electro-pacemaker specialists from the North Shore-LIJ Health System that teamed up here. Bottom-line, was a phenomenal outcome with a happy mom and baby.”
Ms. Ballato, a resident of Valley Stream, indicated as she thanked the NUMC team, “I would have never made it without the NUMC team that saved my life and brought me back after I crashed. I have received nothing but phenomenal care and I am so grateful.”
ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.