St. Joseph’s Health Introduces New Technology for Heart Failure Patients

Syracuse, N.Y. – St. Joseph’s Health is pleased to introduce a new cutting-edge technology to its Cardiovascular Institute - the CardioMEMS™ HF System. This tool will help

St. Joseph’s Health cardiologists monitor and treat heart failure (HF) patients. St. Joseph’s Health is the only hospital in the Central New York region to offer this advanced technology.

The CardioMEMS HF System is the first and only FDA-approved heart failure monitoring device that has been proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions and improve quality of life in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III heart failure patients who have been hospitalized in the previous 12 months.

“This new technology will dramatically enhance the proactive management of heart failure and heart health in our community,” said Dr. Ali Al-Mudamgha, MD, cardiologist with St. Joseph’s Physicians. “The CardioMEMS HF System will reduce the number of in-person appointments needed to collect and assess a patient’s current health, allowing us to continue to provide important patient care while maintaining the health and safety of high-risk patients seeking treatment as well as our clinical staff.”

(Left: CardioMEMS™ HF System implantable sensor; Right: CardioMEMS™ HF System external measurement system. Photos Courtesy of Abbott.)

The CardioMEMS HF System consists of two parts: an implantable sensor and an external measurement system. The sensor is a miniaturized, wireless monitoring device that is implanted in the pulmonary artery (PA) during a minimally invasive procedure to directly measure PA. The electronics transmit the readings to a secure website where it can be seen and tracked by St. Joseph’s Health physicians. The system also allows patients to remotely transmit PA pressure readings from the comfort of their homes to their health care providers, allowing for personalized and proactive management to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), nearly six million Americans are living with heart failure, and 670,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. In the United States, the number of deaths from this condition has more than doubled since 1979, averaging 250,000 annually.

About St. Joseph’s Health

St. Joseph’s Health is a regional non-profit health care system based in Syracuse, NY. St. Joseph’s has been an innovative leader in health care since our founding in 1869 as the first hospital open to the public in the city of Syracuse. Offering primary, specialty and home care, a Magnet-recognized hospital, and collaboration with community partners, St. Joseph's Health advances the well-being of the communities we serve through an expanding range of services to ensure our patients achieve optimum long-term health. St. Joseph’s is ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, a designated Stroke Center and a U.S. News “Best Regional Hospital.” St. Joseph’s Health is affiliated with St. Joseph’s Physicians and is a member of Trinity Health. For more information on our founding Sisters of St. Francis including Saint Marianne Cope, our legacy and our innovations, visit www.sjhsyr.org/legacy.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 109,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.

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