CEDARTOWN, Ga., Feb. 28, 2024 – When leaders at Atrium Health Floyd decided to open a congestive heart failure clinic at Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center, they knew it would provide an important service to many patients who live in the largely rural area in the region.
Betty Haney is a perfect example of the clinic's success story.
Haney, a heart failure patient, lives in Bremen, approximately a half hour ride from the hospital. If the service was not offered at Polk Medical Center, she would probably have to travel another half an hour to Rome to the heart failure clinic at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center.
The 82-year-old was first diagnosed with heart failure in October. She said she has been hospitalized several times but has been feeling better since going to the clinic, which she does every week. It is not a chore for her.
“That place is a lifesaver for me," Haney said. “They have just been wonderful. I look forward to going. They are so nice. They are like friends."
The clinic helps people learn to take better care of themselves and manage their chronic disease. It provides educational resources, lab work and medication administration.
“It has really made a difference in their lives," said Lacey Hobbs, clinical manager. “We know a lot of our congestive heart failure patients don't feel good; they are pretty sick. So, the fact that they can just drive a couple of miles down the road and get care here is life-changing."
Before Haney started going to the clinic, she said she had problems with her legs swelling and had trouble walking. “Now the swelling is down, and I can walk much better," she said. “I am not out of breath like I was before.
The clinic helps heart failure patients stay active longer. Even without the clinic, the hospital had been recognized for the care it provides those patients. For five consecutive years, the hospital has earned Gold certification from the American Heart Association for its heart failure care.
Patients learn about:
- Types of heart failure, including congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Healthier eating
- Medication side effects
- Ways to increase activity
- How to monitor what they eat and drink
- Tracking how much they weigh
The clinic is open Monday through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 770-749-4157.
Polk Medical Center is considered one of the nation's top rural hospitals by the Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization that focuses on patient safety. The hospital earned the designation in 2009, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023. Only 15 hospitals nationwide earned that honor last year.