Healing a Heart for Valentine's Day

Feb. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Jason Finkelstein, M.D., an interventional cardiologist based at Wise Regional and associated with Advanced Heart Care, is volunteering his services to assist Raymond Noel, an 84-year-old man from Grenada who has been diagnosed with dilated Cardiomyopathy.

The battery is quickly dying in Mr. Noel's current internal defibrillator.   Without the resources available to afford a new one and due to the limited services in Grenada, Dr. Finkelstein has arranged to the provide the cardiac procedure at Wise Regional Health System at no cost, through donations by vendors and the hospital to save his life.  

Mr. Noel will be receiving a new ICD unit.  An ICD, or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, continuously check the heart's rhythm and if it detects a life-threatening rapid heart rhythm,  sends an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm.  ICD’s are small devices that are implanted under the skin in the chest. A wire threaded through a large vein connects the device to the heart.

Dr. Finkelstein is willing to allow a reporter and photographer access into the operating room during the procedure on February 16.  Please contact spuphal@wiseregional.com for more information.

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Wise Regional Health System located in Decatur, Texas provides inpatient and outpatient services to Wise, Jack and Montague counties. Wise Regional Health System, affiliated with Baylor Health Care System, operates 148 acute care beds in two facilities. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations has accredited our hospital since 1982. In retaining this status, the hospital is acknowledged by the premium hospital accreditation agency in the nation as meeting or exceeding established health care standards.

With more than 900 employees, and continuing to grow, Wise Regional Health System is the largest employer in Wise County. We are proud of our community-oriented approach to health care and we’re committed to bringing quality, specialized care to you and your family.