World class heart care close to home

Jim Brown’s connection to Baptist Health Paducah started 40 years ago. Diagnosed with a heart valve issue, Jim knew open-heart surgery was on the horizon.

His next decision was where. He and his wife, Brenda, began researching hospitals within a couple hours driving distance — like Nashville. But nothing seemed to surpass the care they knew Jim could receive at home.

“We finally said, ‘We’ve got great people here; we don’t have to go somewhere else,’” says Jim. “Baptist has proven to me twice that that’s the case.”

Jim had his first open-heart procedure in 2005 and the next in 2022. Both times were successful and both times Jim felt like he was in the right place. “I knew I was in some of the best hands you could be in — from the surgeon and anesthesiologist to the nurses and ICU.”

A champion golfer, Jim wanted to get back on the green as quickly as possible and the care he received at Baptist helped him accomplish just that in less than two months.

The technology and procedures offered at Baptist Health Paducah are world class and will continue to be with the help of the community and thankful patients like Jim. While another surgery isn’t pending for Jim, there’s the option for TAVR, a less invasive heart valve operation with less recovery time if his health condition does change. It’s these types of innovative procedures that keep Baptist Health Paducah at the top of many patients’ gratitude lists.

Jim’s experience at Baptist impacted him and his family. To keep that forward momentum of care and innovation, Jim donates to Baptist Health Foundation.