Owensboro Health Offers Heart Failure Clinic

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, it’s common to feel uncertain about what to do next. But you aren’t alone. The Owensboro Health cardiology team is ready to help you navigate this challenging time with expertise and compassion.

Recently, Owensboro Health has created a Heart Failure Clinic directed by Navin Rajagopalan, MD, an advanced heart failure specialist who is also the Director of the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network at the University of Kentucky.

“Being diagnosed with heart failure can be scary, but the good news is that we have several treatments that can improve symptoms and allow patients to live longer with improved quality of life,” Dr. Rajagopalan said.

While medications are at the forefront of therapy for heart failure, and physicians will often start patients on several medications over time until treatment goals are achieved, proper diet and regular exercise are important components of treating heart failure. "In cardiology, I love the interaction between medications, procedures and devices,” said Dr. Rajagopalan. "They can all work together to allow patients to live longer and, most importantly, feel better."

Understanding Heart Failure

Heart failure is a general term we use to describe the heart’s inability to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs, and it's a chronic disease that will require patients to follow up on a regular basis with their primary care physician and cardiologist, Dr. Rajagopalan said. 

Although it is possible for a person to have heart failure and not know it, most patients develop symptoms that cause them to seek medical attention.

“The most common symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath with simple activities, worsening fatigue, swelling of the legs and feet, and unexplained abdominal swelling,” Dr. Rajagopalan said. “Patients may have difficulty laying flat at night and require more than two pillows to avoid feeling short of breath. Some of these symptoms could also be due to other medical problems, so it is important for people to make an appointment with their doctor if they notice any of these symptoms.”

A Team Approach

Heart failure is a complex illness requiring a team of healthcare workers to treat patients successfully. The heart failure clinic at Owensboro Health has a team of cardiologists, nurse practitioners, nurse navigators and pharmacists who all work together to help patients with heart failure feel better and stay out of the hospital.

• Dr. Rajagopalan works closely with the team in Owensboro, traveling from the University of Kentucky each month to see patients locally.
• A nurse practitioner is available to see patients in a timely manner, monitoring changes in symptoms and the patient’s overall condition.
• The pharmacist reviews patient medications prior to preparation to ensure they are appropriate based on their condition and lab work. They can also help answer any questions.
• A nurse navigator provides individualized assistance to patients, their families or caregivers and provides education and support regarding the patient’s heart failure treatment, follow-up care and rehabilitation plan. They’ll also coordinate with the physician and other members of the treatment team to ensure everyone receives excellent care.

“Heart failure can be unpredictable, and the Owensboro Health clinic will ensure patients can be seen on time and have their concerns addressed should urgent problems arise,” Dr. Rajagopalan said.

Learn more about Dr. Rajagopalan and the Heart Failure Clinic at OwensboroHealth.org/Raj, and ask your primary care provider for a referral if you’d like to make an appointment.