When I took the role as system medical director for heart failure, I wanted to make sure that every single Baptist hospital had a heart failure clinic. And I also wanted to make sure that our health care providers had access to the best technology. So one of those happens to be the ReDS system. It was very unique, it's a first of its kind, and I just saw that utility of being able to help determine if the patient has too much fluid or not in their lungs that day so that we can make some adjustment to their medications and keep them out of the hospital.
One of the things I really love about heart failure care is it is a chronic disease and so we get to know patients and their families really well. And that's just really one of the most important things to me is I get to hear about the grandkids and ball games that they go to, and they're able to do that more effectively because of the care that we provide them here.
Heart disease of all different types is one of the most common diseases that you can get, so I think investing in heart care is really important for every community because it's your parents, it's your children, it's your family, it's your neighbors, and I see it as a long term community investment.
For Hardin, it was really important to get the ReDS system so that if you're a resident, you don't have to be on the interstate to get medical care. We actually just took the device and put it in their backyard. Philanthropy is how we were able to obtain the ReDS device. And I just want to say to the donors that give to Baptist Health Foundation that they didn't just help us buy a piece of equipment, they help buy a piece of time for the patient and their family to spend more time at home rather than be in the hospital. Cardiology and cardiac care is constantly changing, so I think it's really important for Baptist Health to stay on top of any technological developments.
