HMH - Advanced Heart Failure Center - JSUMC

About Us

Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Advanced Heart Failure Center offers comprehensive care for patients with heart failure with a full range of medical and mechanical circulatory support options for both short and long term treatment. We also provide the full range of device therapies including left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for the advanced heart failure patient.

Our multidisciplinary team of heart failure and structural heart specialists and nurse practitioners collaborate closely with patients and their referring physicians to tailor treatment plans and provide ongoing support throughout their journey. 

Our Heart Failure program is recognized by multiple national organizations. Our accreditations include Det Norske Veritas ( DNV) Specific Care Certification Program for Ventricular Assist Devices, The American College of Cardiology (ACC) Heart Care Center designation, and the “Get With The Guidelines” Heart-Failure Gold Plus Award. Our program is one of the first in the nation to receive the ACC outpatient heart failure program accreditation.

We also offer a regional clinical program of excellence dedicated to the care of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is a complex disease which results in high blood pressure in the lungs. It is often associated with heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension can be a slow progressive debilitating disease which usually causes subtle physical changes over time. Our priority is for early referral, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of this progressive complex disease. Our commitment focuses on helping patients maintain their quality of life, maintain their functional capacity, and maximize the best treatment options available for patients with complex cardiac conditions.

What is Heart Failure?

Heart failure occurs when the heart doesn’t pump as efficiently as it should to deliver oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the body. This results in fatigue, shortness of breath and fluid retention that can permanently damage your heart. This does not develop suddenly, but happens over time as the heart’s pumping ability declines and cannot keep up with the workload.

The pumping function of the heart is measured by the Ejection Fraction or EF. A normal EF is between 55-65%. 

Causes of Heart Failure:

• Valve problems

• Occurs when one or more of the heart’s four valves don’t function properly. Mainly when the valves don’t open and close properly. 

• Chronic high blood pressure (Hypertension)

• Happens when the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high 

• Restrictive Cardiomyopathy such as Amyloid

• This is a metabolism disorder that results in protein complexes that deposit in the heart and replace normal heart tissue. Long-term this affects the heart drastically. 

• Heart Attack or Coronary Artery Disease

• Occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen because blood flow has been blocked or somehow limited causing the heart muscle to lose its strength or function. 

• Pulmonary Hypertension

• The blood vessels that bring blood to the lungs are narrowed and thickened, causing high blood pressure in the lungs. This condition makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the lungs, which can damage the heart and lungs. 

Specific Treatments 

• Left Ventricular Assist Device
• An LVAD is a mechanical pump that is surgically implanted below the heart to assist in pumping blood to the rest of the body. A tube connects the device to a controller outside of the body that powers the LVAD.
• Medications
• Medications to control heart failure symptoms.
• Customized treatments based on individual patient needs
• Extensive Patient Education
• Experienced nurse educators to ensure patients and families under treatment plan and disease process in a supportive environment
• Multidisciplinary team consultations to determine the best plan of care/treatment options including the Optimizer and Barostim

Advanced heart failure treatment plans often will include implantable devices to help with the heart function (pumping ability).

• Internal defibrillators
• Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: An ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) is a small device placed in the chest that monitors the heart rhythm and delivers electric shocks to stop irregular heartbeats. 
• Pacemaker therapy - to help stimulate the heart to beat better
• A pacemaker is a small device that’s placed in the chest to help the heart beat regularly by sending electrical signals. This can improve the quality of life for people with slow or irregular heartbeats and can prevent serious complications. 
• Impella Heart Pumps
• A temporary heart pump that can allow the heart to rest during an acute or emergent event. It will pump blood to the rest of the body while the heart heals or bridges to a next level of support.
• Ventricular Assist Device 
• A VAD is a device that helps a weakened heart pump blood to the rest of the body. This can bridge patients to heart transplantation or serve as long-term therapy for those who are not transplant candidates. 

Our physicians have the most advanced training and education with collaborative relationships with multiple centers for those that need a heart transplant.

Our Services

• Outpatient Comprehensive Heart Failure Management
• Evaluation and management of specific cardiomyopathies (Amyloid, Sarcoid, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy HCM)
• Diagnostic biopsies
• IV medication (diuretic and inotrope) management
• CardioMems Monitoring
• Barostim Device Therapy
• Cardiac Contractility Modulation
• LVAD evaluation, implantation and post-operative care
• Post-LVAD and post-heart transplant care
• Palliative care referral

Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment Options

Pulmonary Hypertension treatments include oral tablet medications, inhaled or nebulizer devices, subcutaneous, or intravenous therapy. In some conditions of pulmonary hypertension, we can use a small sensor, about the size of a paperclip, placed in the pulmonary artery called a Cardiomems, to measure blood pressure in the lungs. We also refer patients with advanced pulmonary hypertension for lung transplant evaluation when necessary.

Why Choose Our Program?

Patient-Centered Approach

At the heart of our practice and the program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center is a commitment to patient-centered care. We prioritize open communication, collaboration, and compassion, ensuring that patients feel supported and empowered throughout their journey with us.

Referring Physician Collaboration

We understand the importance of collaboration with referring physicians in providing seamless care for our patients. Through open communication and shared decision-making, we work closely with referring providers to ensure continuity of care and optimal patient outcomes.

Discover the Difference

Whether you're a patient seeking advanced treatment options or a referring physician looking to partner with a trusted cardiovascular center, we invite you to discover the difference of our cutting-edge cardiac surgery practice at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Your heart health is our priority, and we're here to provide you with the highest quality care every step of the way.

Additional Locations:

ADVANCED HEART FAILURE CENTER
Ocean University Medical Center
1610 Route 88, Suite 203
Brick, NJ 08724

CARDIAC SPECIALTY CLINIC
102 James Street, Suite # 203,
Edison, NJ 08820

Meet the Team