Care New England Cardiovascular Care to Host Second Annual Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Community Forum for Patients

Care New England Cardiovascular Care along with the Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates at Care New England will offer its second annual educational forum, free to the community on Thursday, May 28, 2015, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) affects more than two million people in the United States and is the most common type of irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).

 

“We are very excited to provide this second annual educational forum to the many patients in our community who have atrial fibrillation," said Bruce A. Koplan, MD, MPH, director of the cardiac arrhythmia service for Care New England and a member of the Brigham and Women's Cardiovascular Associates at Care New England. “Although atrial fibrillation is very common, there are a number of different treatment options that we can offer to patients with this condition to help them live a normal life. We will answer many questions patients may have about the symptoms of AFib and how to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle once diagnosed. We look forward to building on the tremendous success of last year’s event.”

Forum topics will include:

  • Recognizing atrial fibrillation (AFib).
  • What is atrial fibrillation.
  • Medications for rate and rhythm control.
  • Electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.
  • Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation Stroke prevention.
  • Atrial fibrillation in women.

This educational forum for patients with AFib is being sponsored by Care New England and Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates at Care New England. It is free and includes dinner. Attendees are welcome to bring a guest. For more information or to register, please contact Sue Bartos at Sbartos@kentri.org or call (401) 737 7000, ext. 31650.

Care New England cardiovascular services are made possible through a clinical affiliation with Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston. This program, staffed by Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates at Care New England, provides convenient locations for its patients at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket; Women & Infants 90 Plain Street facility in Providence and Kent Hospital in Warwick, while offering treatment for all but the most complex cardiac diagnoses locally.

The expansion of cardiovascular services at Care New England comes after a clinical affiliation with Brigham and Women’s Hospital established a comprehensive program at Kent Hospital. Since then, it has grown to include many additional services including advanced cardiovascular imaging modalities such as cardiac CT, the advanced valvular heart disease service, and the advanced heart failure service with transplant consultation, along with Women’s Heart Health of Women & Infants. These services are provided by board certified cardiologists and a team of Care New England nurses and clinical support staff. For a full listing of all cardiac services or more information on Care New England cardiovascular care, please visit Care New England Cardiovascular Care.

About Kent Hospital

Kent Hospital, a Care New England Hospital, is a 359-bed, acute care hospital. It is Rhode Island’s second largest hospital, serving approximately 300,000 residents of central Rhode Island.

A teaching affiliate of The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kent offers programs in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Fellowship. Kent’s redesigned Emergency Department (ED) sees approximately 70,000 patients a year and ranks Kent’s ED volume among the top 10-percent nationally. It was the first hospital in the state to eliminate the practice of ambulance diversion.