Methodist Health System | Methodist Mansfield Medical Center | Shine | Spring 2015

13 / 20

For Ellen Rogers Abrell, the journey to better heart health began
last summer in Michigan, when she was visiting her son and
daughter-in-law during the Fourth of July holiday.
“We were seated on the beach, watching the sunset,” recalls
Ellen, a then-newly retired teacher and 71-year-old grandmother
of six. “When it was time to go, I discovered that I needed help
pushing myself up to a standing position. Then I realized I
couldn’t really walk. It was like my legs had just stopped working.”
Within 48 hours, Ellen had flown to Texas to be treated near
her family in Mansfield. Alan Taylor, MD, on the medical staff
at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, ordered a series of
tests for Ellen and, based on their results, recommended further
investigation via cardiac catheterization.
A look inside
“Cardiac catheterization involves the insertion of a thin, flexible
tube through a blood vessel, which is then threaded into the
patient’s heart,” Dr. Taylor explains. “It allows us to diagnose
and treat a range of heart problems quickly and efficiently, with
minimal risk to the patient.
“In Ellen’s case, the catheterization also included an aortogram
with runoffs, which allowed us to also check for possible
involvement in her legs and her abdomen.” Ellen’s catheterization
revealed the presence of nonobstructive coronary artery disease
HOW’S YOUR HEART DOING?
Take our heart disease quiz at
and peripheral arterial disease. Stents — small wire-mesh tubes —
were then placed in her blood vessels to improve blood flow.
“Everything about all of the procedures happened smoothly —
and quickly,” Ellen says.
Care with heart
Although the diagnosis of heart trouble was unexpected, Ellen
says she’s taking it in stride.
“Dr. Taylor recommended a diet and exercise plan to help me
stay on the right track,” she says. “Throughout my treatment and
recovery, there was a lot of explanation and follow-up to make
sure I understood everything and knew what I needed to do to
feel better.”
This thorough communication and collaboration are the
aspects of Ellen’s care at Methodist Mansfield that stood out the
most to her.
“Whether it was dry shampoo for my hair or music to listen
to during a procedure, the staff always seemed to have my needs
at the front of their minds,” she says. “I never heard anything but
kind words from the nurses, techs, and doctors, whether talking
to each other or to patients.
“They never treated me like a number, and no matter how busy
they were, they made me feel like I was the only patient they had
to worry about,” she adds. “I couldn’t have asked for better care.”
Un-beat-able cardiac care
Communication and
collaboration helped
Ellen Rogers Abrell take a
diagnosis of heart disease
in stride
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center • ❁ Spring 2015 9
HEART CARE