A new way to fix broken hearts

When Martin Rains, MD, began attending Georgetown College, then moved on to the medical school at the University of Kentucky, he was certain that he wouldn’t be returning to his hometown. However, after nearly 14 years of medical training, that is exactly where he ended up when he took a position with Baptist Health Paducah.

“I always wanted to help people and find a way to make a difference in the lives of others,” he said. “Once I realized my path to do just that was through medicine, I spent a little over a decade dedicating my life to learning how to safeguard one of the most important organs we have: our heart.”

Dr. Rains specializes in interventional cardiology, which is a specialty that diagnoses and treats heart and blood vessel conditions using small tubes called catheters; as well as, structural cardiology, a new evolution of heart care within the last decade that allows for minimally invasive techniques to treat issues within the heart that previously required open heart surgery.

“Hearts are essential,” he said. “We employ leading edge technology and practices to offer patients the most fitting treatment option for their unique needs resulting in the best possible outcomes even for the most complex cases. Being able to offer big city care in a small-town was a large component in my family’s decision to move back to Paducah. I’m not only helping to improve patient’s quality of life and their overall life expectancy, but I am also doing this for my neighbors and teachers that I had several years ago. It’s what I refer to as full circle. I am now helping to save the lives of those who helped shape mine.”

As part of Baptist Health’s commitment to remain at the forefront of healthcare, Dr. Rains and his team recently performed the first MitraClip® procedure to repair a leaking heart valve by implanting a small clip to the patient’s mitral valve to help restore normal blood flow.

“The things that we are doing and the new techniques that we are bringing to our patients is revolutionizing heart care,” he said. “Through MitraClip® and transaortic valve replacement (TAVR), we are offering minimally invasive procedures that are helping our patients to feel better faster and have the opportunity to make more memories with their families. It is incredible to be part of the progression of care for a vital organ that millions of people are seeking care for across our nation, and to know that without leaving our community, you can get the same, great care that you could get anywhere else.”