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Plant Based Nation - Better Living Through Plant Based EatingPresented by Dr Sal (Salvatore J. Tirrito, MD, FACC - Pima Heart Cardiologist)
The Plant Based Nation Movement is dedicated to giving you the guidance, the information and the resources to help you along your journey to a healthier, happier, more energetic you. To Register for upcoming seminars at www.therawcardiologist.com Dr Stephen S. Algeo, Dr Laryenth D. Lancaster, Dr Marius M. Wagner and Dr Jerrold A. Winter have earned the prestigious honor as one of the Best Doctors in America® for 2010-2011.Dr Stephen S. Algeo, Dr Laryenth D. Lancaster, Dr Marius M. Wagner and Dr Jerrold A. Winter have earned the prestigious honor as one of the Best Doctors in America® for 2010-2011. Compiled by Boston-based Best Doctors, Inc., the Best Doctors in America® database is the result of an exhaustive survey of more than 45,000 physicians in the United States. Only those doctors recognized to be in the top 3-5% of their specialty earn the honor of being named one of the Best Doctors in America®. Over the last 15 years, Best Doctors has earned worldwide acclaim for its remarkable database of physicians. The Best Doctors database is the world's premier effort to create a validated, peer-reviewed database of excellence in medicine. The Best Doctors methodology is rigorously impartial and strictly independent. Doctors cannot pay to be included in the database and are not paid to complete the survey. The only way to be recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America® is for a doctor to earn high marks for clinical ability from his or her peers. About Best Doctors, Inc. Best Doctors, Inc. is the world leader in connecting people with the best medical care. Best Doctors services help dramatically improve quality of care by bringing the clinical knowledge of the world's top specialists to the problems of people with serious medical conditions. By making sure individuals get the right diagnosis and treatment the first time, Best Doctors reduces complications and avoids ineffective treatments-and as a result eliminates unnecessary spending. Founded in 1989 by doctors affiliated with Harvard Medical School to provide doctor-to-doctor consultations for complicated cases, Best Doctors has grown into an international company providing services to 10 million people in 30 countries. For more information please visit www.bestdoctors.com Please join Pima Heart in congratulating Stephen S. Algeo, MD, FACC on receiving the Northwest Medical Center Physician Recognition Award As a member of the Medical Staff at Northwest Medical Center since 1986, Dr Algeo has been involved in the Medical Staff leadership activities for a number of years. Dr Algeo is a valued and respected Cardiologist, participating extensively on the CMS Core Measures (AMI & CHF), The Chest Pain Committee and serves as Chairman of the Pharmacy & Therapeutic Committee Echocardiography Laboratory Accreditation
Private offices, clinics, and departments within hospitals that are accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) voluntarily submit to a review of their daily operations. By participating in the accreditation process, medical facilities demonstrate a commitment to the performance of quality echocardiography and strive to meet nationally recognized standards. During the accreditation process, applicant echocardiography laboratories must submit documentation on every aspect of their daily operations. While completing the application, laboratories are required to identify and correct potential problems, revising protocols, and validating quality assurance programs. Applications submitted, including samples of the echocardiography performed, are reviewed by experts throughout the United States and Canada. Accreditation is granted only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with the ICAEL standards. Pima Heart ICAEL accreditation is valid for three years beginning March 31, 2008. Nuclear Medicine Laboratory Granted Accreditation by the Inersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratrories (ICANL)
One American dies every 32 seconds of cardiovascular disease, disorders of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, costing society over 83.7 billion dollars each year in the health services, medications and lost work time due to disability. Each year, approximately five and a half million stress nuclear cardiology studies are performed in the United States. Both the pump function and the blood flow of the heart are assessed during nuclear cardiology testing procedures. As a result, physicians are able to detect the presence of cardiovascular disease and may also discover important information regarding the occurrence of future heart attacks. The heart is evaluated at rest and during exercise using a small amount of radioisotope during the noninvasive procedure. A complex imaging technique, nuclear cardiology testing relies on the experience and training of both the physician and the technologist. Their interpretive and technical abilities determine the diagnostic accuracy of the examination. The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories (ICANL) has developed an accreditation program that evaluates the quality of these and other critical elements of the nuclear cardiology laboratory. Pima Heart Associates, Nuclear Medicine located in Tucson, AZ, was granted accreditation by the ICANL. The laboratory is one of the first nuclear cardiology laboratories in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to be so recognized for its commitment to high quality patient care and its provisions of quality diagnostic testing. The ICANL was established with the support of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, The Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Nuclear Physicians and the Academy of Molecular Imaging (formerly recognize the provisions of quality nuclear cardiology and nuclear medicine diagnostics evaluations by a process of voluntary accreditation. A non-profit organization, the ICANL is dedicated to ensuring high quality patient care and to promoting healthcare. Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary. Accreditation status signifies that the facility has been reviewed by an independent agency that recognizes the laboratory's commitment to quality testing for the diagnosis of heart disease. Pima Heart Physicians, PC Attains Vascular Laboratory Accreditation (ICAVL)
Pima Heart Physicians, Vascular Lab has attained recognition for its commitment to providing a high level of patient care and quality testing for the diagnosis of vascular disease. The facility achieved accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). Pima Heart Physicians, Vascular Lab located in Tucson, AZ, is one of a select number of vascular laboratories in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to meet or exceed the ICAVL standards for noninvasive vascular testing. During the accreditation process, every aspect of the laboratory's daily operations and its impact on the quality of health care provided to patients is assessed and reviewed. While completing the application, laboratories are required to identify and correct potential problems, revising protocols and validating quality assurance programs. Participation in the accreditation process demonstrates the laboratory's attention to a high level of patient care and quality testing. ICAVL accreditation is valid for a period of three years (beginning January 18, 2008). The ICAVL is a non profit organization established with the support of eleven medical societies including physicians, technologists and sonographers that represent medical specialties including cardiology, neurology, radiology, vascular medicine, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine and biology. We are pleased to announce the following Pima Heart Physicians have been awarded Recognition by the American Heart Association (AHA)/ American Stroke Association (ASA)/ National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Heart/Stroke Recognition Program.
Physicians listed below have been awarded Recognition for 3 years (beginning August 17, 2007) by the AHA/ASA/ NCQA Heart/Stroke Recognition Program.
Physicians listed below have been awarded Recognition for 3 years (beginning August 22, 2007) by the AHA/ASA/NCQA Heart/Stroke Recognition Program.
The Heart/Stroke Recognition Program was designed to improve the quality of care that patients with cardiovascular disease or who have had a stroke receive by recognizing physicians who deliver quality cardiovascular and stroke care, and by motivating other physicians to document and improve their delivery of cardiovascular and stroke care. To receive recognition, which is valid for three years, the above Pima Heart Physicians submitted data that demonstrates performance that meets the Program's key cardiovascular and stroke care measures. These measures include blood pressure and cholesterol control, among others. When people with cardiovascular disease or who have had a stroke receive quality care as outlined by these measures, they are less likely to suffer additional complications, such as a second heart attack and stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for approximately 950,000 deaths each year. Approximately 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year; stroke is the third leading cause of severe, long-term disability. Despite evidence that reducing cholesterol levels and controlling high blood pressure prevent further health complications, many cardiac stroke patients are not treated effectively for these symptoms. NCQA is committed to providing information on the quality of health plans and physicians. Consumers can easily access health plans' NCQA Accreditation statuses and other information on health care quality on NCQA's Web site at www.ncqa.org, or by calling NCQA Customer Support at (888) 275-7585. The View from Here!Starting Sunday, September 28th Listen to Dr Tirrito every Sunday on Clear Channel KNST 790am from 11am - 1pm. On "The View From Here!" show, Dr Tirrito, along with host Nancy Scilingo and Co-Host Stacey Beebe, take your calls, answer emails and talk about health, dieting, and exercise along with a host of other topics. St. Mary's Hospital and Pima Heart Physicians are awarded the Get With the Guidelines - Sustained Achievement Award by the American Heart Association.The Get With the Guidelines Program is an evidence based hospital quality improvement program ensuring the care hospitals provide to coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure patients aligns with the latest scientific guidelines. The award is given to hospital cardiovascular teams that deliver consistent, high quality care to cardiovascular patients following a STEMI. The quality of care is measured as achieving greater than 85% compliance in six categories:
St. Mary's Hospital and Pima Heart Physicians maintained this level of care over a two year period. Pam Borg-Jenson, American Heart Association Vice President of Quality Improvement, Pacific Mountain Division and Dot Walker, American Heart Association Executive Director, Southern Arizona presented the award to St. Mary's Hospital and Pima Heart Physician at the Division Meeting on June 7, 2007. Building Cultural CompetencyPfizer Pharmaceuticals awards Pima Heart the Vida Sana Healthy Life Culturally Competent Certification Program. The Pfizer program was awarded to only a small number of markets and practices. Pima Heart was honored to be selected as the recipient of the program for the Arizona Market. The Building Cultural Proficiency Program defined effective cross-cultural communication as much more than language translation by including the need to understand cultural beliefs, values and behaviors and the impact this understanding can have on healthcare delivery. The American Medical Association is even seeking to establish cultural proficiency as the "fifth physician competency". The program highlighted:
Presenter, Miguel Martinez MD, presented building cultural proficiency as an ongoing and dynamic process at the Pima Heart Annual Employee Meeting, September 2006. Best Places to Work NominationPima Heart is selected as a finalist for the 9th Annual 2006 and 10th Annual 2007 Wells Fargo Copper Cactus Awards - Best Place to Work category. To qualify for the Wells Fargo Copper Cactus Award, a small business must be locally owned and operated, for profit, have 250 or fewer employees, and be in operation for at least two years. The Wells Fargo Copper Cactus Committee recognizes 4 award categories:
Of the 623 applications received, only 45 companies are selected as finalist. It was an honor to be recognized as a premiere locally owned small business in our community. Employee Wellness ProgramsIn February 2006, Pima Heart launched the first Employee Health Day. Employees and their Spouses were invited to receive 6 health measurements and a 1:1 consult to identify their risk factors and develop 6, 9 and 12 month wellness goals. Individuals achieving their milestone goals were eligible for prizes including $100 gift cards, 1:1 sessions with a Personal Trainer or Nutritionist, 10 weeks paid Weight Watchers Sessions, Treadmills and Elliptical Machines. Participants completing the 13 month program lost a combined total of 130 lbs and combined BMI reduction of 25 points. In June 2007, Pima Heart launched our first Employee 90 day HealthAwards Fitness Challenge. Employees received a baseline screening to measure their Waist, Body Fat and Weight. Participants then track their daily fitness activities online. Participants receive points for fitness activities and their 90 day measurement reductions in baseline measurements. Approximately 60% of the staff is participating and continues to accumulate daily fitness points. We look forward to calculating the total reductions in early September. At the completion of the program participants will be eligible to spend their accrued reward points on an online catalog with over 10 thousand products.  American Heart Association National Wear Red Day - February 2006/2007/2008/2009/2010In 2006 Pima Heart launched the Go Red for Women Awareness Campaign to help educate our female guest (patient and/or caregiver) that visited a Pima Heart Office about the significance of Women and Heart Disease. Pima Heart Staff participated by wearing red and wearing the American Heart Association Red Dress Pin. Every female guest received a Red Carnation, Red Dress Pin, American Heart Women In Red Newsletter and Love Your Heart Pima Heart Bookmarker with Healthy Heart Tips. American Heart Association EventsAnnual events raise support for various American Heart Association Campaigns in our community. Pima Heart continues to be a proud sponsor of the following events:
Community Events throughout Southern Arizona
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Angélica I. Ordaz at (520) 297-9060 x 1333 or email angelica.ordaz@pimaheart.com.
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The majority of chronic diseases that plagues us as a society, whether it is cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, fatigue, you name it, all have the same root cause. Inflammation. It is this highly inflammatory state that our bodies are in all the time that breaks down our immunity, breaks down our spirit (because we feel unwell most of the time), and slowly breaks down our bodies. Unfortunately, for most people, getting older means getting sicker, losing your mobility, taking more and more medications, and generally enjoying a pretty dismal quality of life. This doesn't have to be the case. For most of us, we can dramatically improve the quality of our lives now and as we get older by changing what we put into our mouths.
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