HJNO Sep/Oct 2024

54 SEP / OCT 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS NURSING COLUMN VASCULAR Collaboration As a professional who has spent years focused on enhancing cardiac care, par- ticularly in interventional cardiology and valvular heart disease, I find myself in- creasingly hopeful about the future of heart health in our community. The recent launch of the LCMC Health Structural Heart and Heart Valve Center centraliz- es heart valve programs from Lakeview Hospital, University Medical Center, East Jefferson Hospital, and Touro. Rather than competition among cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and interventional cardiolo- gists, we’re sharing knowledge, discussing complex cases, and supporting one anoth- er — all with the patient’s best interest at heart. This unified approach leads to more consistent care and, ultimately, better out- comes for our patients. Our center is built on three core pil- lars: treatment, research, and training. By taking a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, we bring together experts from various fields — cardiac surgery, interven- tional cardiology, electrophysiology, and more — to offer comprehensive care. Our commitment to research ensures that we’re always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, integrating the latest inno- vations into our practice. Many of us are involved in national research protocols and have a strong presence on the national stage. Through partnerships with LSU and Tulane Medical Schools, we’re combin- ing our knowledge and applying our ac- ademic research to our practice, bringing cutting-edge technologies and treatments to our region. Through our dedication to COLLABORATIVE CARDIAC CARE: Revolutionizing Heart Treatment Through Innovation and Teamwork