Heart Failure Clinic
Learn how to take good care of yourself if you have heart failure—a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood. St. Bernards Heart & Vascular teaches you how to reduce symptoms and prevent trips to the hospital, so you can enjoy a healthier, more independent life. We offer heart failure clinics throughout northeast Arkansas, so you can get care where it’s most convenient for you.
What to Expect
Your doctor may refer you to our clinic after you receive a diagnosis of heart failure or stay in the hospital for related health problems. After receiving the referral, we’ll make an appointment to learn about your needs and create a care plan just for you. For the first four weeks, you’ll meet weekly with our advanced practice registered nurse. After that, we’ll schedule appointments based on your care plan.
Invite a loved one to attend appointments and find out how to help you manage heart failure. You’ll both learn about:
- Healthy eating
- Exercises to reduce heart failure symptoms
- Stress reduction
- Signs that you need to call your doctor
- Ways to prevent medical emergencies
You’ll also learn how to take your medications correctly and reduce side effects. If you need help paying for medications, ask about our patient assistance program.
Team Approach
You do best with support from a team, so you have access to many types of professionals at St. Bernards. We’ll keep your primary care doctor and cardiologist in the loop, so they can give you coordinated care. You may also see:
- Electrophysiology team – Help you manage your pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or another heart device
- Cardiac rehabilitation experts – Guide you through a personal exercise program to safely strengthen your heart
- Palliative care providers – Offer medical, emotional and spiritual care to improve your quality of life
- Advanced Heart Failure Clinic
Reach out to us for support as often and as long as you need it.
High-Performing Hospital in Heart Failure
U.S. News & World Report considers St. Bernards Medical Center a high-performing hospital for treatment of heart failure. Most of our patients get well enough to go straight home after leaving the medical center. We see many heart failure patients each year, meaning we have the experience to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
