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When It's Your Heart, Experience Counts
A retired New York City firefighter received the care he needed from the region's most accomplished and advanced interventional cardiology program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Since retiring from the Fire Department of New York City (FDNY) 10 years ago, Robert Davis, 63, of Rumson has enjoyed a well-deserved rest here in Monmouth County. Active and in good health, Robert knew he should not take a sudden tightening in his chest lightly. "I was just outside raking leaves when I got a tight feeling I had never felt before," recalls Robert. "I went right to my doctor to determine what was going on."
Following several tests, Donald P. Ferri, M.D., Robert's cardiologist, identified a blockage of the blood flow to his heart that would require immediate treatment. Robert was promptly transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, which hosts one of the top interventional cardiology programs in New Jersey.
Most Experienced Team in the State
Once at Jersey Shore, Nelson LaMarche, M.D., chief of interventional cardiology, performed an angioplasty in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, a procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the artery to remove the blockage and return a healthy flow of blood to the heart. Jersey Shore's Cardiac Catheterization Lab performs the most procedures in New Jersey — an important fact considering that the number of procedures performed at a hospital is an indication of the level of experience a cardiology team has.
"Dr. LaMarche and his team were fantastic," says Robert. "I was of course very nervous about what would happen, but they made me feel very reassured that I was in the right place, with the right team."
Although Robert's angioplasty was successful, there was still a question of whether he would require additional treatment through open-heart bypass surgery. If so, Robert was still in the right place, for Jersey Shore is home to the regional cardiac surgery program for Monmouth and Ocean counties, which has been rated among the top programs in the state by the N.J. Department of Health and Senior Services for several consecutive years.
Ultimately, to Robert's relief, he didn't need cardiac surgery, but "it was reassuring to know the cardiac surgery team was available for me if I did," he says.
Dr. LaMarche seconds that assurance: "Jersey Shore has the most comprehensive cardiac program in the region. As such, the entire cardiac team works closely together; from our interventional team to our cardiac surgeons to our cardiac rehab specialists, we ensure a seamless treatment of care for our cardiac patients that cannot be found at other hospitals."
Home the Next Day
Following his procedure, Robert was able to go home the very next day. "I couldn't be happier with the care I received at Jersey Shore. The physicians were so knowledgeable and made me feel confident in their expertise. The nurses and technicians were all so wonderful and caring — the whole team was all about making sure I was comfortable. It's the kind of care you would want from a hospital."
 – Michael Valentino
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