Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead has reached a new milestone in its cardiac care program, performing its 100th CardioMEMS implant — a procedure that allows doctors to monitor heart failure patients remotely and adjust treatment before symptoms worsen.
The device, about the size of a paper clip, is placed in a patient’s pulmonary artery to continuously measure pressure changes that can signal the early stages of heart failure. The data is transmitted to the patient’s care team, enabling proactive adjustments to medication and care plans. The technology has been shown to reduce hospitalizations and improve quality of life for people living with chronic heart disease.
“This achievement demonstrates the extraordinary skill of our clinical team and the high level of care we’re able to offer right here in Riverhead,” Peconic Bay Medical Center President Amy Loeb said in a press release.
“The CardioMEMS technology has transformed the way we can monitor and treat patients with heart failure, allowing them to live healthier, more independent lives. Reaching this 100th implant is a testament to the trust our patients place in PBMC and the dedication of our entire cardiac team,” Loeb said.
Peconic Bay Medical Center launched its CardioMEMS program in March 2018 at the Robert Entenmann Catheterization Lab inside the Kanas Regional Heart Center. The hospital’s cardiac team has also been recognized for pioneering one of the first CardioMEMS implants performed without contrast dye, using intravascular ultrasound instead — a technique that benefits patients with kidney disease or dye allergies.
Dr. Andrew Persits, director of interventional cardiology, said the technology has changed outcomes for hundreds of local patients.
“What makes this milestone so meaningful is that it reflects the hundreds of lives improved through earlier intervention, reduced hospitalizations and a better quality of life for our patients and their families,” Persits said.
The hospital’s cardiac program has allowed many East End residents to avoid traveling to hospitals farther west for advanced procedures. The team includes electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists, specialized nurses, technicians and anesthesiologists working in a multidisciplinary environment designed for continuous care — from emergency intervention to follow-up management, according to the hospital.
“This milestone shows the success of our CardioMEMS program, but also the strength of the comprehensive cardiac care we have built at PBMC,” interventional cardiologist Dr. Ryan Patterson said. “Through cutting-edge technologies like this, combined with the continued expansion of our Cath Lab and cardiac services, we are giving patients access to the same level of advanced heart care that they would find in the region’s largest hospitals, without having to leave the East End.”
The hospital continues to expand its cardiovascular services, including a new multispecialty practice at 889 Harrison Avenue, and participation in the Barostim study— a clinical program evaluating an implantable device that uses mild electrical stimulation of neck nerves to help regulate heart function and improve symptoms in patients with heart failure. These and other initiatives are aimed at strengthening heart health on the East End, the hospital said in the press release.
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