The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
Published November 28, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently certified the Advanced Heart Surgery Program at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro to implant artificial heart pumps on patients with advanced heart failure.
The pumps, known as left ventricular assist devices, pump blood throughout the body, rather than relying upon a failing heart. LVAD technology offers a treatment option for heart failure previously unavailable in Northeast Arkansas. The program at St. Bernards is the first Arkansas program outside of Little Rock to receive CMS certification.
Cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Jay K. Bhama assisted St. Bernards in establishing the procedure. He said the urgency behind it stems from the prevalence of heart failure throughout the region.
“Our patients previously traveled to Memphis or Little Rock to have their devices implanted and receive ongoing care,” Bhama said. “We can ease that burden by giving them a more accessible, advanced support option.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eastern Arkansas has the highest death rates from heart failure per 100,000 persons in Arkansas.
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