Member News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 26, 2006

Silver Cross Hospital Completes Research Study on Women and Heart Disease

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and women will continue to die from heart attacks and heart disease unless a new approach is taken. To kick-off American Heart Month, on Feb. 1, Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet introduced the Women's HeartAdvantage(tm) program as part of a national initiative to change women's behavior about heart disease.

To develop the hospital's new model for care, Silver Cross conducted benchmarking research on the attitudes and awareness that women in the southwest suburbs have about women and heart disease. Market Strategies, Inc.-a division of The Strategy Group, facilitated focus groups and randomly interviewed 299 women in Will and Southwest Cook counties ages 40 to 70 by telephone.

"Our research revealed a real 'disconnect' for women about women and heart disease," said Karen Corrigan, CEO of The Strategy Group. "Many of the women surveyed have risk factors such as high cholesterol and obesity, yet they don't recognize that these risks can directly lead to heart attacks. In comparison, the first thing a woman thinks of when she feels a lump is cancer."

Key research findings:

  • 30 % of the respondents believe that breast cancer poses the greatest threat to their health. In reality, 43% of women die from cardiovascular disease and only 4% die from breast cancer.
  • 82% percent of the participants surveyed qualify as being at risk for heart disease or a heart attack, yet only 35% percent have been diagnosed or perceive themselves to be at risk.
  • Physicians and their female patients are not initiating conversations with each other about heart disease. 90% percent of women would prefer to get information about heart disease from their physicians; yet, 34% percent of the women who have obtained information about heart disease said the information did not come from their physician's office.
  • Southwest suburban women know what they are supposed to do to combat heart disease, but they are not doing it. Only 26% percent of women have initiated discussions with their doctor about the risk of heart disease, 31% percent have completed a self-assessment risk profile, 22% percent have participated in a heart screening, and only 8% attended a seminar or educational program on heart disease.

A national alliance of 2,200 health care organizations and their physicians has collaborated to develop the Women's HeartAdvantage(tm) program, and Silver Cross will implement the first hospital-based program in the southwest suburbs.

The American Heart Association congratulates this alliance on its efforts to fight heart disease in women. "Heart disease claims more female lives than any other disease, and every year since 1984, more women than men have died of cardiovascular disease," said Rose Marie Robertson, M.D., past president of the American Heart Association. "We believe that combining our efforts with Silver Cross and the alliance we will strengthen our fight against heart disease in women."

"The Women's HeartAdvantage(tm) program is geared toward changing the way physicians approach prevention, detection and treatment of women with heart disease," says MaryBeth Antone, Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services at Silver Cross Hospital. "It also will raise awareness and change behavior among women about steps that they can take to prevent heart attacks and how to recognize when a heart attack is occurring, since the symptoms can be different for women."

"Our challenge is to get women to act, " said Seif Martini, M.D., medical director of cardiology at Silver Cross Hospital and cardiologist with Heartland Cardiovascular Center. "The problem is that women are delaying seeing their physicians or going to a hospital emergency department when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. In this campaign, we're giving women tools to help them be more assertive in seeking rapid and appropriate care. And, we're educating area physicians about their role in treating women for this illness."

To reach the goal of reducing heart attacks and heart disease, Silver Cross physicians and staff will implement an aggressive awareness campaign to educate women. The hospital will launch a new Women's Heart Advantage(tm) hotline, offer a variety of educational programs and screenings in the community and distribute "Take Action" information that explain how women can take control of their heart health. Cardiologists will be working with internal medicine and family physicians and obstetricians/gynecologists to encourage them to discuss risk factors and diagnostic testing with their patients, especially the need to seek immediate medical care when patients have heart symptoms.

Silver Cross Hospital physicians, clinicians and researchers will gather and analyze data, including: how long it takes women from the onset of heart attack symptoms to receive a doctor's care in the hospital's emergency department or the Chest Pain Center; the number of women who are seen in the emergency department or Chest Pain Center; and the number of women who call the Women's Heart Advantage(tm) hotline to request information and register for heart health tests and seminars.

Women can start improving their heart health by taking part in Silver Cross Hospital's Heart Fest on Saturday, Feb. 18. Held in the Brown Cardiovascular Institute on the hospital's campus, women can have a Cardiovascular Check-up for just . The Check-up includes an ankle brachial index {ABI}, carotid artery check to screen for atherosclerosis in individuals who are smokers, diabetics or over 50 years old; baseline EKG interpreted by a board certified cardiologist; HDL/LDL cholesterol and Triglycerides levels; blood glucose level to test for diabetes; body mass index (BMI); and blood pressure check. In addition, there will be a variety of free programs including a discussion on the non-invasive treatments for varicose veins with Colin Sumida, interventional cardiologist with Heartland Cardiovascular Center at Silver Cross, and a presentation on the advances in the treatments for congestive heart failure by John Dongas, electrophysiologist with Heartland Cardiovascular Center at Silver Cross. Throughout the morning, participants can watch a heart-healthy cooking demonstration with free samples and recipes, have a 10-minute massage and visit health information booths. At the end of the event, there will be a door prize drawing for a Nano iPod. For more information or to register, call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

About Silver Cross Hospital
Silver Cross Hospital has been creating world-class health care experiences for the southwest suburban communities for over 110 years. Silver Cross has been recognized as one of our nation's 100 Top Hospitals by Solucient and as one of America's Most Friendliest Hospitals by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. Exceptional care. It's not unusual. It's simply the way you should be treated.

About The Strategy Group
The Strategy Group(tm) helps companies define, achieve, and sustain strategic advantage in the healthcare industry and other competitive markets. Our people and methods engage leaders in strategic thinking, planning and innovation - addressing and resolving competitive challenges and improving long-term strategic performance.