Cardiology paces Little River’s growth
Improvements mean more, better heart care; directors eye new building
By Mike Brown - Rockdale Reporter Editor
Rockdale, Texas (March 12, 2009) Rockdale’s medical community has had a “hearty” influx of growth in past years after it was acquired by Blackhawk Healthcare and nowhere is that more in evidence than in the cardiology care it offers.
Dr. Jonathan Sheinberg, cardiologist at Little River Healthcare System (LRHS), believes Rockdale area residents get the best of both worlds. “In addition to the small town caring atmosphere, we offer technology that’s equal to—or better than—the big-city hospitals in our area,” he said. “And I’m not just saying that. We have people tell us that.”
“Just recently someone who was in the Central Texas medical community told me he believed our patients here get a better medical-care experience than at Seton in Austin,” Dr. John M. Weed III, family medicine physician, and president of the Rockdale Hospital District board of directors, said.
“I can look at our technology, piece of equipment by piece of equipment, and compare it to what I know they’re using in the big-city hospitals,” Dr. Sheinberg said. “In some cases I believe ours is better because it’s newer.”
State-of-the-art
The cardiology department’s growth has been stunning. “In five years, we’ve gone from having one old ultrasound unit to two state-of-the-art units, a nuclear cardiology system, a state-of-the-art CT-scan and we’re in the process of getting a full cath lab,” Dr. Sheinberg said. A catheterization laboratory (cath lab) is an examination room with diagnostic equipment which supports the catheterization process. A catheter is inserted inside a large artery and diagnosis is made through information obtained from the sophisticated digital devices which can be inserted.
Bottom line for Rockdale residents. There’s no need for trips to Austin, Temple or the Brazos Valley for diagnosis of heart-related problems. “In 75 to 80 percent of cases there’s not a need to install a stent, what we call an intervention,” Dr. Sheinberg said. “We can diagnose and treat a problem.”
Peripheral treatment
“Of course in those 20 to 25 percent of cases where a heart intervention is required we will send the patient to a facility where that can be performed,” Dr. Sheinberg said.
There’s more. Heart and circulation weakness can also trigger problems in the extremities, particularly the legs and LRHS can treat those problems in Rockdale. “We can go in and fix those blockages in the legs,” Dr. Sheinberg said. “We can do so much in cardiology here right now. We want to be sure Rockdale people know about it.”
Move-ins, locals
As LRHS has expanded its cardiology program, usage has taken off. “Several years ago we were seeing 10 cardiology patients a month,” Dr. Weed said. “Now we’re seeing 75 a week.” A cardiologist sees patients at LRHS’s Rockdale facilities four days a week and there’s a nurse-practitioner on duty full-time.
In addition to Dr. Sheinberg, cardiologists Dr. Vu Nguyen and Dr. Matthew Rogers see patients at LRHS. There’s an irony in what’s happened, though. Move-ins and short-time area residents have discovered the cardiology services offered in Rockdale but many long-time residents have not. “It’s been kind of a stereotype for a long time, I guess, that you went to the big city for heart problems,” Dr. Sheinberg said. “People who have moved in just come up here and expect we’ll have state-of-the-art treatment and technology, which we do. But the Rockdale people have been slower to come around,” he added. “We’re eager to get feedback about what we’re doing,” Dr. Sheinberg added. “We want to hear from people we’ve treated.”
Growth, plans
Cardiology has been a spectacular example of the LRHS’s growth but it’s by no means Rockdale’s only growing area of health care. “We have an oncologist visiting twice a month,” Dr. Weed said. “Cancer patients can now begin an evaluation here.”
The new Fresenius Medical Care dialysis center is entering an evaluation phase and should begin providing treatment to area kidney patients later this year. “We now offer 14 specialties,” Jeremy Riney, LRHS chief executive officer said. “Little River Clinics now see 115,000 visits per year,” Dr. Weed added.
Growth is so rapid the question of a new hospital for Rockdale has turned from “if” to “what kind?” Survey crews were on the grounds of Richards Memorial Hospital last week as directors grapple with whether to expand the current hospital, constructed in 1973-74, or build a new one.
“Spawglass Construction will prepare an impact statement showing the cost benefit analysis of new construction compared to expanding the current facility,” Riney said. “We looked at all kinds of options, from the old Wal-Mart building to finding some piece of property in the Rockdale area,” Dr. Weed said. “None of them really worked out. There’s plenty of room on our present campus,” he said. “We just have to decide what form the new hospital plans will take.”
View this story on the Rockdale Reporter's site: www.rockdalereporter.com
About Little River Healthcare
Little River Healthcare System formed in November 2006 when Blackhawk Healthcare merged with Richards Memorial Hospital to create a healthcare system dedicated to providing high quality, patient-centered care to the community. Little River Healthcare System is currently comprised of 5 facilities in surrounding areas: Richards Memorial Hospital, Family Care Center, Little River Medical Clinic - Rockdale, Little River Medical Clinic – Cameron and Little River Medical Clinic - Hearne. Our energized and committed staff of employees, physicians and volunteers work together every day to deliver our mission.
About Blackhawk Healthcare
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Blackhawk Healthcare is an owner and operator of small community and Critical Access Hospitals. Blackhawk’s desire is to transform rural healthcare by working synergistically with each rural community to build confidence and pride through improved healthcare delivery. We are passionately dedicated to the uniqueness of rural healthcare and improving the community by bringing the resources required to meet the broader needs of each "hometown" we touch. Blackhawk is inspired to provide excellence in service and modern facilities that convey trust, confidence and healing.