A commitment to women’s health begins with a commitment to women in healthcare.” Dr. Augustine Agocha, Deborah’s Chair of Cardiology, recently used these words to describe Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s commitment to women’s health.

In addition to a full-service outpatient program dedicated to women’s cardiovascular health and wellness, Deborah Heart and Lung Center is one of the only hospitals in the region that has at least one woman practicing in every cardiology subspecialty. Whether it’s vascular disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, diabetes, or critical care, Deborah can offer its female patients exceptional care for women, by women.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s Women’s Cardiovascular Wellness Program, offered in Deborah’s Outpatient Clinic, is designed to systematically evaluate and treat cardiac and vascular disease in women. Specialized programs that pay attention to the details and listen carefully to the patient’s story are the best way to detect cardiovascular disease early enough to prevent permanent damage to the heart. Deborah’s program includes a comprehensive health maintenance registry that strives to keep women feeling and living well for decades, even with a diagnosis of heart disease.

Complementary and alternative therapies are also reviewed and incorporated into the treatment regimen when appropriate. Information regarding heart-healthy diet, relaxation, stress reduction, and personalized exercise programs are also available. Patients in the program are evaluated by specialized cardiologists and nurses and receive regular reminders for testing and checkups to make staying healthy automatic. Community education and robust clinical research are also important parts of the program’s multidimensional effort to improve the health of all women in the community.

While Deborah’s services for women are currently located in several areas of the Center’s Outpatient Clinic, renovations will soon be underway to create a dedicated area for women. Women visiting the Women’s Cardiovascular Wellness Program will enter the clinic to a private waiting area, and will be able to access the women’s services in one single area of the clinic. This will allow Deborah’s female patients more privacy as well as more convenience when they visit Deborah’s women’s program.