MyHeartHealth

Between 3 and 6 million Americans have a cardiac arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat—and the rate of those dealing with the condition is increasing. In the early stages, even after an initial diagnosis, an individual might not have any signs or symptoms. But without proper treatment, an irregular heartbeat can lead to life-threatening complications such as blood clots, stroke and heart failure.

MyHeartHealth combines Vanderbilt’s world-class medical care with a reimagined approach that coordinates and “bundles” all the services needed for patients recently diagnosed with a cardiac arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation (AFib or AF), atrial flutter (Aflutter), and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Patients diagnosed with these arrhythmias within the past two years are good candidates for the bundle, unless they are also managing other conditions, such as a history of stroke, a heart transplant, advanced heart failure or are on dialysis.

The primary goal of MyHeartHealth is to proactively address irregular heartbeats to avoid adverse and costly health care episodes. The bundle includes two electrophysiology (EP) procedures—catheter ablation and left atrial appendage closure.

A catheter ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for fast heartbeats. With this procedure, a thin tube is inserted through a blood vessel to the heart.

A left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is a procedure that blocks or closes the opening to the LAA to keep blood clots from leaving that area and going into your bloodstream. This prevents strokes in people with atrial fibrillation who are not candidates for blood thinners.

With MyHeartHealth, you benefit from:

The best path—We want the best possible outcome for you. As a result, only patients who can truly benefit from an EP procedure will continue with the MyHeartHealth bundle. If you don’t qualify clinically, you will exit the bundle and continue to be medically managed.

No surprise billings—Our bundle offers predictable out-of-pocket expenses. Everything is included, including a follow-up procedure if needed.

Concierge treatment—Our patient navigators will help you manage your care at every step of the process.

Peace of mind—An irregular heartbeat can be stressful. Our team helps you objectively evaluate treatment options while also creating a sense of calm after the procedure is over by providing remote monitoring devices that confirm your heart is beating regularly. If there are concerns, you will be quickly connected back to care.

Exceptional results—We have a proven track record for effectively addressing cardiac arrhythmia. Our procedures significantly outperform drug therapy.

• You speak with one of our patient navigators, who confirms you are eligible, explains the process and collects required information. 
• Next, you will be scheduled for a consult to determine the best clinical path.
• If you are a good candidate for either a catheter ablation or left atrial appendage closure, you will proceed in the bundle. If neither procedure is deemed appropriate, the bundle will conclude for you.
• If you are scheduled for a procedure, you will receive pre-procedure education to help you prepare. This includes delivery of a home monitoring kit you can use after the procedure to monitor your heartbeat.
• Typically, patients are discharged from the hospital the same day of their procedure. A small number (less than 20%) will require an overnight stay.
• Following the procedure, we provide monitoring and bundle coverage for nine months for catheter ablations and a full year for left atrial appendages to ensure a successful road to recovery. This includes regular check ins, and in few cases, a repeat procedure.

Clinical excellence–Vanderbilt offers national leaders in all areas of electrophysiology: atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, left atrial appendage management, device implantation and device extraction. Our patients experience lower rates of emergency department visits and repeat ablations compared to the market average.

Team approach–We work together to ensure you receive comprehensive care. Our team members collaborate with each other, as well as with experts in other medical disciplines, to provide you with care that addresses your unique needs.

Innovation—At Vanderbilt, patients have access to advanced treatments before they are widely available. We have worked with medical device makers to bring new treatments for cardiac arrhythmia to Vanderbilt. Our doctors have helped develop new surgical techniques for closing the heart’s left atrial appendage, reducing stroke risk for certain patients with atrial fibrillation.

Begin by checking your eligibility for the bundle in the Chat box below. 

If you are eligible to participate in the MyHeartHealth bundle, you must speak with one of our patient navigators to enroll in the program. Eligibility and enrollment requirements vary by employer, and our patient navigators can walk you through the process and help schedule your first appointment.

Start a conversation in the Chat box below, schedule an appointment at this link, or call (615) 936–BNDL (2635) for more information.