TMH Launches the Big Bend Region’s First Cardio-Oncology Program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., December 2, 2021 - Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), in partnership with TMH Physician Partners, Services by Southern Medical Group, has established the Big Bend region's first Cardio-Oncology Program, providing patients specialized care to prevent, treat and sometimes even reverse heart complications caused by life-saving cancer treatment. A collaboration between the regional healthcare leader's cutting-edge cardiology and oncology programs, the Cardio-Oncology Program brings an emerging field of advanced, multidisciplinary medicine to Tallahassee.

While evidence-based cancer therapies have drastically improved patients' survival rates, some treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy can potentially cause heart problems. In fact, studies have shown more than 30 percent of all cancer patients eventually develop some degree of cardiovascular complications. Unexpected heart complications, as well as the worsening of pre-existing heart disease, can in turn lead to disruptions in cancer care. TMH's Cardio-Oncology Program meets this challenge head on, addressing the impact of cancer therapies on heart function from the very beginning of patients' cancer journeys.

Led by highly skilled cardiologists and cardiac imaging specialists Hussein Rayatzadeh, MD and Gregory Hartlage, MD, the Cardio-Oncology Program expands Tallahassee Memorial's complex Heart & Vascular Program - one of the top in the Southeast. Dr. Rayatzadeh is one of approximately 120 physicians in the world board certified in Cardio-Oncology by the International Cardio-Oncology Society, filling an unmet need and offering an invaluable resource to the community. Together with TMH's leading cardiac imaging team, they use the most advanced multi-modality cardiac imaging technology available in the region, including 3D echocardiography with strain imaging, to monitor patients' hearts before, during and after cancer treatment. Together, the program's heart and cancer teams tailor treatment plans to patients' specific needs.

"No care team wants to see their patient beat cancer only to die later of heart disease," said Hussein Rayatzadeh, MD, cardiologist, cardiac imaging specialist and Medical Director of the Tallahassee Memorial Cardio-Oncology Program. "With the Cardio-Oncology Program, we're considering not only what the patient needs right now, but what they'll need down the road so we can get ahead of it. Detecting a patient's heart complications early allows us to intervene quickly, reduce cardiac damage, prevent disruptions to their cancer care and, ultimately, improve their quality of life long term."

"Establishing a Cardio-Oncology Program here at TMH means our patients now have access to a level of multidisciplinary cardiology and cancer care typically found at nationally recognized facilities," commented Andrew Starr, FACHE, Vice President & Chief Health Operations Officer at TMH. "At TMH, we pride ourselves on bringing the most cutting-edge advancements in medicine right here to our local community, so patients can heal close to home."

The introduction of the Cardio-Oncology Program also grows TMH's already comprehensive cancer program, which is recognized as the longest continuously accredited comprehensive community hospital cancer program in the State of Florida. Oncologists, hematologists and nurse navigators at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center work closely with patients to identify their risk for cardiac side effects - which may be due to existing heart disease or cardiotoxic (toxic to the heart) treatment - and refer them to the Cardio-Oncology Program when needed.

"Our oncology team is laser focused on providing patients accessible, compassionate and evidence-based cancer care," shared Kathy Brooks, Administrator of Oncology Services at TMH. "We know how difficult a cancer diagnosis is and we're constantly looking for ways to make the treatment process easier on our patients. By streamlining multidisciplinary care, the Cardio-Oncology Program does just that."

Patients who can benefit from TMH's Cardio-Oncology Program include those who are or will be undergoing potentially cardiotoxic cancer treatment; those with diagnosed heart disease who are or will be receiving cancer treatment; and those who've previously received potentially cardiotoxic cancer treatment, including those treated for cancer as children or young adults. Individuals undergoing cancer treatment who are not currently patients of TMH's Cancer Center should speak with their providers to be referred to TMH's Cardio-Oncology Program.

To learn more about the Tallahassee Memorial Cardio-Oncology Program, please visit TMH.ORG/CardioOncology.