Bob's Stress Test

Bob’s a pretty typical 50-something guy. He’s a husband, father, businessman. He was an athlete in high school. He’s also pretty busy working 50+ hours each week.

He doesn’t get much time for exercise and his diet isn’t too great. He’s actually on the edge of being diabetic. He has a family history of heart problems and relatives who have suffered heart attacks and other problems. To compound things he is a smoker… Nothing big, less than half a pack a day.

On the golf course Saturday, Bob's game was not good. He was getting pretty frustrated. He just didn’t feel very good, probably coming down with something.

When he got home he was tired and needed to rest a little. By Tuesday he didn’t feel any better, so he called his doctor who wanted to see him right away.

Dr. James has talked often with Bob about making some changes to his lifestyle. He says Bob needs to get some real and regular exercise. He wants him to eat better… cut down on the fats and salt and eat more lean white meats and veggies.

He always tells him about the problems he could have from smoking. Bob’s blood pressure and cholesterol have been borderline problems for years.

Dr. James takes one look at Bob and knows things aren’t good. After checking him out, Dr. James refers Bob to the hospital for an EKG, and stress test, then to a cardiologist for an echocardiogram.

This all seems a bit much to Bob, but he goes because he’s sort of scared. His father had died of congestive heart failure. Dr. James’ office staff call the hospital to make the appointment.

When Bob arrives, he checks in with one of the Access Services registrars who has his scheduled appointment noted. The registrar collects additional necessary information and sends him for his testing.

Bob goes to the Heart Station where he’s given an EKG by the EKG technician. The technician tells Bob that the results of this test will be explained to him by the doctor along with the other tests he’ll have.

From there he goes to the Cardiac Lab for a stress test and echocardiogram. The specially trained staff are very friendly and professional.

The doctor recommends an angiogram in the Cath Lab for Bob. This lab is equipped to perform a variety of interventional procedures including the angiogram, (percutaneious transluminal coronary angioplasty, or PTCA), which opens blocked arteries.

The Cath Lab can also insert stents and do electrophysiology studies. These services are performed by cardiologists with the team of specially-trained professionals in the lab.

Following all the testing, Bob meets with the cardiologist in his office. Bob is given a choice of next steps. Bob really appreciates this team approach, especially because he feels that he is part of the team by making the decisions about his care.

He sees how closely the doctor and his office work with the hospital. He understands now that he has a serious coronary artery blockage. He can choose the option of stenting (drug-coated stent) in the Cath Lab or going to surgery for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). After some serious discussion Bob elects to have open-heart surgery. A surgery date is set immediately.

The Open-Heart CABG is performed by a cardiothoracic surgeon and the specially-trained Open-Heart Surgery Team, which includes the cardiothoracic surgeon, a surgical first assistant, circulating RN, RN clinicians and many others.

The surgery goes well and Bob is moved quickly from recovery to his room. He receives excellent care during his hospital stay with 24-hour nursing and visits from specialists who help him prepare to leave the hospital able to take care of his condition.

Bob has the opportunity to appreciate many of the employees of the hospital who make a patient’s stay more comfortable. He sees how clean everything is kept. He’s pretty impressed with the food service… it’s really good! He becomes aware of all the linen and things that need to be clean and available.

When Bob is discharged he has an appointment set to begin a program in Cardiac Rehabilitation. This team includes an RN, exercise specialist, physical therapist, dietician and others.

He will be working on changes he needs in his lifestyle to prevent any further problems. The team will help him with goal setting, education on what he needs to do, monitoring his progress, and, of course, helping him develop a better routine of diet and exercise.

This is a lot of work for Bob and his family, but Bob is very relieved. He knows now that he will be OK. He also can see how much his family is learning along with him and hopes that it will help them prevent problems before they even begin.

The hospital closes Bob’s case in the Health Information Management Department by charting his services. The coders review the charts to find all items of treatment for Bob.

This information is sent to the billing office where it is put onto appropriate bills and submitted to insurance companies and other responsible parties for payment. Bob’s records are stored.

Bob is back on the golf course now… and in the gym and eating better, and doing all the things for a healthy lifestyle. Amazingly, even his putting has improved!

Take the Tour
It is recommended you take a minimum of three of these patient tours. You are welcome to go on as many as you like. Click on the story name to open it.

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