Heart Failure Care Center

MetroHealth’s board-certified cardiologists specialize in treating heart failure. They participate in numerous clinical research studies, including the National Institute of Health's Heart Failure Network investigation of new therapies. Our team relies upon extensive research done by thousands of researchers and reported by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Failure Society of America. Our cardiologists carefully follow the guidelines set by these professional organizations.

Our nurse practitioners and RNs have received advanced heart failure training, and we have a dedicated pharmacist specifically for our patients. We collaborate with other facilities when there's an advanced surgical need, such as a heart transplant.

Referrals from your doctor enable us to match you with the right specialist. To schedule an appointment call 216-778-BEAT (2328). 

Symptoms of Heart Failure

Heart failure—also called congestive heart failure, or CHF—is a growing problem. It's one of the most common reasons people 65 and older head to the hospital. According to the American Heart Association, about 5.7 million Americans are living with heart failure, so you're not alone. Your body's organs rely on a constant supply of blood and oxygen, which are delivered with each beat of your heart. When your heart muscle is damaged or weakened, it may not be able to beat effectively, putting the health of your entire body at risk.

The condition is common, in part, because it stems from many different causes. High blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, inflammation, infections, thyroid problems, diabetes, family history, and some drugs used to treat cancer can all play a role.

Heart failure can make you feel short of breath, weak and tired. You might struggle with everyday tasks like shopping or climbing the stairs. You may also wake up in the middle of the night, struggling to catch your breath. Changes in your weight or swelling in the feet or legs are other heart failure symptoms.

Treatment Options, Education and Support

MetroHealth offers therapy options you can't find elsewhere in Northeast Ohio. Treatment for heart failure ranges from medication to dietary changes to implanted devices and monitors. We know the value of new treatments and offer cutting edge technology, such as the use of CardioMEMS. We help our patients understand the disease, so they can take smart steps at home to keep the condition under control.

MetroHealth offers small-group classes for patients, families and caregivers about heart failure signs, treatments, monitoring and lifestyle interventions. Our goal is to empower you to take charge of your health, and we work with you as you put these lessons into practice.

While some of the MetroHealth advantages are high-tech, others are high-comfort. The Heart Failure Care Center is staffed so that you can be seen when you need to be seen—not when an appointment happens to be available. We see patients frequently, especially right after hospitalization or when we're still adjusting medication. Often, we see patients immediately after hospital discharge, before their primary care physician sees them.

Recognition

The MetroHealth System received the American Heart Association’s 2020 Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, which recognizes MetroHealth’s commitment to ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

Referrals from your doctor enable us to match you with the right specialist. To schedule an appointment call 216-778-BEAT (2328).