Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital

Prisma Health is the first health system in South Carolina, North Carolina, or Georgia to enroll a randomized patient in a pivotal study evaluating a new minimally invasive heart failure therapy. In addition, the Advanced Heart Health Center at Prisma Health Heart Hospital is one of only two facilities in the state offering the new therapy. The CORCINCH-HF Study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the AccuCinch® Ventricular Restoration System, a new and innovative approach to treating heart failure that is designed to improve the structure and function of the heart and may help reduce symptoms, improve quality of life and potentially increase life expectancy.

Current treatment options for heart failure include lifestyle changes, medications, and implanting a pacemaker to help support the heart’s pumping abilities. Because heart failure is progressive, meaning symptoms tend to worsen over time, patients need new options when existing therapies are no longer able to manage their condition. Early clinical data suggests the AccuCinch System may address this need in patients who have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), possibly providing a new option that improves heart function and slows disease progression.

The care team performing the first implant were Vince Vismara, MD, Patrick Hall, MD, and Ryan MacNevin, MD. The referring heart failure care team was Patrick McCann, MD (principal investigator), James Ampadu, MD, Rebecca Napier, MD, and Michal Rofael, MD. The referring team will monitor the patient’s progress for five years.

“Our team embraces the mantle of leadership when it comes to the comprehensive treatment of heart failure in South Carolina,” said Vince Vismara, MD, Midland’s Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and Interventional cardiologist with Prisma Health Cardiology. “We’re honored to be selected for this innovative global clinical trial and proud of having the first randomized patient in the region. This type of therapy will provide an option for patients who need more than existing therapies provide but are not candidates for LVAD.”

Experiencing heart palpitations can be an unnerving or even frightening experience. That feeling of your heart ‘skipping a beat’ might have you worried about what it might mean.

In this short video, cardiologist Chris Armstrong, MD, spoke about heart palpitations and the signs and symptoms of arrhythmias. He also answered common questions about heart palpitations. https://prisma.health/3ss0q2

Heart palpitations: When to worry - Flourish Cardiologist Chris Armstrong, MD, goes over the signs and symptoms of heart palpitations, as well as what to do if you experience them.

Getting your yearly mammogram is an important part of basic recommended healthcare screenings. But, if you’ve been called back for a diagnostic mammogram
after your yearly screening, it can be a little confusing. (We hear “Didn’t I just have
one?” a lot!) Each type of mammogram plays an important part in early diagnosis
for breast cancer, so it’s important to understand the differences between them.

Still curious? Visit the link to learn more info from radiologist Douglas Bull, MD.
https://bit.ly/49xjiEJ

On March 4, Prisma Health Employer Health Services will open the doors to our second Direct Primary Care location, our newest location will be located at 1333 Taylor Street, Suite D, in downtown Columbia on the Baptist Hospital campus.

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a comprehensive primary care model that provides high-quality, relationship driven medical care. The goal of the DPC is to work closely with employers to ensure their employees and dependents receive timely medical care, without additional expense and while providing outstanding access to a healthcare provider.

We believe that your workforce should have unlimited access to affordable, comprehensive, personal primary care. DPC services include, but are not limited to:
• Annual physicals
• Diagnostic testing and labs
• Chronic condition management and referrals
• Care coordination
• Urgent care and virtual visits
• Wellness programs and coaching

Call 864-522-6550 (803-296-7560 on March 4) or visit PrismaHealth.org/DPC for more information.

Frank Clark, MD, an Upstate psychiatrist, emphasizes the need for South Carolina to have more mental health professionals and providers in other areas of specialty who represent the racial makeup of their communities.

Dr. Clark, an outpatient psychiatrist at Greer Center for Psychiatry and a clinical associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, was recently elected to the presidency of the Greenville County Medical Society, the first Black person to hold the position since its inception in 1891.

Dr. Clark works to encourage medical students – especially students of color – to consider psychiatry. “We need more people to meet the needs of a diverse population," he said in a recent interview with WYFF News. "As a Black psychiatrist, I make up 2% of the psychiatric workforce, and that has to change. We need more psychiatrists who are representative of the communities they serve."

He noted that studies have shown higher levels of mental health incidents among the Black community, but not necessarily higher levels of care.

"In communities of color … there is still a stigma when it comes to mental health. I want to dissolve that stigma,” he said in the interview. “People are worried they're going to be viewed as crazy, and that is not so. Everybody is hurting in some way," Dr. Clark said. “Depression is no different than diabetes. Depression is no different than high blood pressure. It's important not to be silent.”

Dr. Clark also leads the Levi S. Kirkland Society of African American Physicians. The society, named after the first Black surgeon at Greenville Health System, has a threefold mission: “We are dedicated to sponsorship, mentorship and community engagement,” he said. “Our goal is to partner with stakeholders in the community and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville to develop strategies to increase recruitment and retention of under-represented physicians, especially African Americans.”

And while he acknowledges “there’s always room for growth,” he believes this group of physicians is making a difference.

The group also pairs medical students with mentors. “Medical school is an exciting but arduous journey,” he said. “We want students to know we see them, we hear them and want to be there with them through this journey.”

You’ve probably heard conflicting statements on whether chocolate is bad or good for you. Yes, the added sugar, fats and processing that typically comes from producing milk chocolate can be bad for you. However, there is research that showcases the nutritional benefits that can come from pure, unsweetened cacao, which is very different from milk chocolate, making it the better choice if you choose to give in to your chocolate craving.

If you're looking to satisfy your chocolate craving this Valentine's Day, Registered dietitian Lisa Akly, RDN, answered some questions on the benefits of eating chocolate and how to fit this delicious treat into your daily life.

The benefits of eating chocolate - Flourish Registered dietician Lisa Akly, RDN, answered questions on the benefits of eating chocolate and how to fit this treat into your diet.

February 14 is and Prisma Health is bringing awareness to organ donation. Today we’re recognizing those who have given the gift of life, have received a donation or are currently waiting for a match.

Jeremy Turner was born with a congenital birth defect that eventually led to kidney failure and him needing a kidney transplant at 15 years old. He received a living donor transplant from his father that lasted for more than 30 years.

“When I was younger, I didn’t think much of my dad donating his kidney but the older I got, the more I realized how blessed I was,” said Jeremy.

However, his kidney began to fail again due to chronic rejection. Jeremy had to restart dialysis and would soon need another kidney. That’s when his twin brother, Jason, came forward and became a living donor in December 2023.

“I didn’t know when this day would come, but I did know that it would happen. I’ve been mentally preparing my whole life to help my brother. I was made for this moment and there was never a question of if I would donate,” said Jason.

Jeremy and Jason both grew up being very active and loved playing football. However, due to his condition, Jeremy had to give up contact sports. That didn’t stop him and his brother and together they found a love for basketball and would play for hours upon hours. To this day, they still play and are excited to pick it back up once they are both fully healed and feel ready. The Turner family is very tight-knit with Jeremy, Jason and their father only living one mile apart from each other and getting to see one another almost every day.

“It’s impactful to have a physical piece of both my dad and my brother inside me. It’s surreal to think that someone would do that for you out of love,” added Jeremey.

For more information on becoming a living donor and to discuss options directly with Prisma Health’s Transplant Center, call 864-455-1770 or visit prismahealth.org/kidney-transplant.

On Sunday, February 11, before the #1 USC Women’s Basketball team defeated UConn, Prisma Health cardiologist Dr. David Isbell was remembered. Dr. Isbell was a pioneer in cardiology and the lead cardiologist for USC’s athletic department.

Accepting the game ball was Dr. Gopi Shah, a friend and colleague, and Dr. Isbell’s three sons: Connor, Harrison, and Grant.

Thank you to the Prisma Health team that keeps student-athletes healthy! To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/49BSQt9.

Prisma Health is excited to announce the opening of their newest Urgent Care location in the Midlands at 944 Harden St. Columbia, SC 29205.

Prisma Health plans to open multiple new urgent care facilities over the next several months. Each location offers convenient care, extended hours, and a superior patient experience. For every location, walk-ins are welcome. Visit https://bit.ly/3UzvYGk to book ahead.

Prisma Health is proud to be the official healthcare system and team physicians for the ! We were happy to share the LOVE with the FAMS before yesterday’s win against UConn! ❤️🏀🐓 Posted • Some extra love in our preparation today.

Dental cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Left untreated, they can cause pain and infections that can lead to problems with eating, speaking and even learning.

Scott Balzer, DMD, explained what parents need to know about cavities in children and how to prevent them during . https://bit.ly/49ruq5o

What to know about dental cavities in children - Flourish Scott Balzer, DMD, explained what parents need to know about dental cavities in children and how to prevent them.

Trouble falling asleep and receiving the right amount of sleep are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with up to one-half of children with ASD having sleep problems.

In this article from Flourish, Caroline DiBattisto, MD, explains what issues are most common when it comes to autism spectrum disorder and sleep and what parents and caregivers can do to help children with autism sleep better. https://bit.ly/49dLrAj

Autism spectrum disorder and sleep: what parents need to know - Flourish Caroline DiBattisto, MD, explained what issues are most common when it comes to autism spectrum disorder and sleep and how parents can help.

Jennifer Bair, PharmD, Vice President of Pharmacy Services and Chief Pharmacy Officer at Prisma Health, has been named to Becker’s 75 hospital and health system chief pharmacy officers to know list.

Since 2022, Dr. Bair has served as Prisma Health's vice president of pharmacy services and chief pharmacy officer. She is charged with strategic oversight for systemwide pharmacy operations, with the ultimate goal of coordinating and streamlining pharmacy services across 14 facilities. Dr. Bair is also helping to grow the system's ambulatory services in order to enhance patient outcomes. https://bit.ly/48Vp9TO

February is . Most of us know someone who’s had cancer, and we’re surrounded by news stories about cancer’s causes and effects. But what about trying to prevent cancer in the first place?

Oncologist Larry Gluck, MD, and LeAnn Perkins, a family nurse practitioner in oncology, survivorship and cancer, discuss what we can do to prevent cancer, as well as some breakthroughs that may be on the horizon. https://bit.ly/3OAYvHw

Cancer prevention – today and tomorrow - Flourish Larry Gluck, MD, and LeAnn Perkins, FNP, discuss what we can do to prevent cancer, as well as some breakthroughs that may be on the horizon.

Dr. Yemi Olatunde, Prisma Health internal medicine and obesity medicine specialist, and Dr. Sandra Weber, Prisma Health endocrinology specialist, will help us understand how GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro work and how they are used; as well as the risks and what may be on the horizon for helping patients struggling with obesity and related chronic health conditions.

February 8, 2024, 5:30-6:30 p.m., the Cancer Prevention and Wellness Series presents “Ideas Worth Digesting: Everything You Wanted to Know about the Colon,” a free virtual presentation with Anjani Jammula, MD, Prisma Health Gastroenterology and Liver Center–Greenville.

The Cancer Prevention Wellness Series provides virtual programs by health professionals and local experts covering a variety of topics pertaining to prevention of cancer and chronic disease. Discussions are conversational and conducted live via zoom, giving attendees the opportunity to login and ask questions in real time. We invite you to join us!

Use the following link to receive the link for an upcoming presentation or view past presentations: https://bit.ly/487Bbs7.

February is . It’s not uncommon for children to get cavities that require fillings, crowns or even extractions. In this podcast from Prisma Health, Scott Balzer, DDS, explains more about these various treatments, as well as how to prevent cavities in the first place. https://bit.ly/3w2Xn9o

Are salt and sodium the same? It can feel like the two terms are interchangeable, but in fact sodium is just one of the minerals present in salt. Sodium can have negative effects on blood pressure and the development of heart disease, so it’s important to know how your diet affects your heart health, especially when you’re facing heart failure.

In this short video, Prisma Health dietitian Lisa Akly, RDN, explains the importance of nutrition and limiting sodium for those with heart failure. https://prisma.health/wupivs

Sodium and heart failure nutrition - Flourish How do sodium and heart failure interact? In this video, registered dietician Lisa Akly, RDN, explains how to eat for better heart health.

Today, Feb. 4, is World Cancer Day which aims to prevent millions of deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer and advocating for governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.

On this special day and every day, Prisma Health honors our cancer patients, cancer survivors, physicians and team members who are working every day in the fight against cancer. Visit our website to learn more about our services and to view content from our Prisma Health experts: https://bit.ly/49jLuKv

Cancer Archives - Flourish

In honor of National Wear Red Day, Prisma Health encouraged our team members to wear red to raise awareness about heart disease and to live a heart healthy life. Thank you to our team members for participating in this important initiative and for caring for our community!

Steven Taylor was the first child to receive a cochlear implant at Richland Hospital, in 1999. Today, the wheel has come full circle as he now works on the Richland campus, helping to ensure the team is compliant with proper processes and policies.

“It was kind of incredible to come back here because of the work this hospital had put into me,” said Steven, a Quality Partner in the Department of Clinical Care Experience. “The team at Richland played such a vital role in my success. Now I’m playing a similar role in that I’m helping patients.”

Unlike a hearing aid, which amplifies sounds so they can be detected by damaged ears, a cochlear implant can give a deaf person a representation of sounds in the environment and help him or her understand speech. It’s a small but complex electronic device that bypasses damaged portions of the ear and stimulates the auditory nerve to send signals to the brain, which recognizes the signals as sound.
Steven was born deaf. When he was 3 years old, his pediatrician referred the family to an audiologist to be fitted with hearing aids. The speech therapist mentioned cochlear implants, and Steven’s mother immediately began to research them.

“My parents found out about a program that had started in partnership with the USC Speech and Hearing Clinic. At the time, there had not been any children in this program in the state,” he said. “People were still learning about it, but my mom told me later they couldn’t not take the chance. I am so thankful that she made that decision and gave me my best chance at success.“

As are the surgeon and care team at Richland Hospital who, back in 1999, “chose to take a chance and learn something new and do it to help a child. Thank you for investing in me,” he said. “And thank you to the leaders at Prisma Health who have given me all the tools and knowledge for success.”

He can understand people easily unless they mumble, and with the prevalence of Teams calls with so many people working virtually, he can use the “transcribe” function if there are too many people talking or someone isn’t speaking clearly. He also enjoys listening to music, which he says is a form of speech therapy because he has to distinguish the music from the lyrics.

Steven mentors students across the state and works at a speech camp for deaf children in Charleston each year. He says it’s important to show them that deafness should not be a barrier to success.

Steven isn’t the only one in his family to work for Prisma Health. He said that his mother, Brenda Taylor, went back to school after taking care of him and his brother for many years. She initially earned her certification as a nursing assistant and later became the Family Care Coordinator in the Emergency Department at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

During , we’re highlighting silent myocardial infarctions. Heart attacks, in general, are more common among men. But when it comes to silent myocardial infarction, women actually have them way more often.

Most people are aware of the classic signs of a heart attack: chest pain, shortness of breath, arm radiation, jaw pain. But is it possible to have a heart attack and not know it? Cardiologist Chris Salmon, MD, explains how to recognize when you might be having a silent heart attack in this article from Prisma Health’s blog, Flourish. https://prisma.health/8r6ql7

Recognizing the signs of a silent heart attack - Flourish In this video, cardiologist Chris Salmon, MD, explained the signs and symptoms of a silent heart attack and when to seek emergency care.

Whether you’re on the go or staying close to home, getting a quick bite to eat is something we all need to fit into our busy schedules. Lisa Akly, RDN, shared five tips for choosing delicious and nutritious safe meals and snacks. https://prisma.health/lilwca

New moms often worry if they’re producing enough milk. In this article from Prisma Health’s blog, Flourish, lactation consultant Carla Wham, RN, offers advice on what to expect when breastfeeding and when it might be necessary to supplement with formula. https://bit.ly/3ucxfsa

Breastfeeding your baby – and when to supplement - Flourish Lactation consultant Carla Wham, RN, offered advice on what to expect when breastfeeding and when to supplement with formula.

Weight loss surgery can be a tool to improve your health. If you are considering weight loss surgery, bariatric surgeons John Scott, MD, and Wes Love, MD, discuss the different types of weight loss surgery and what to expect. https://prisma.health/0io068

Prisma Health As South Carolina’s largest private, non-profit healthcare system, Prisma Health is here to create a better state of health for South Carolinians.

Welcome Greta Von Hofe, Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital’s New Year’s baby! Weighing in at 6 pounds 6 ounces, 18¼ inches long at 4:05 a.m., her arrival had long been anticipated by parents Ali and Lee Von Hofe.

The Von Hofes practiced waiting as they struggled to conceive after adoption, a natural birth, and then an early miscarriage. With help from Dr. Joanna Von Hofe, Prisma Health Reproductive Endocrinology, Ali got pregnant early in 2021. She said, “We felt like God had given us this gift of another baby to grow our family.”

Ali had planned to deliver in a hospital with the midwife group, whom she trusted after the birth of her son 2.5 years earlier with a healthy delivery at 39 weeks. They had the birth plan. They had the hospital bags packed. The kids were with grandparents celebrating New Year’s Eve. They were all set just waiting on the baby girl and friends and family prayed for a quick and speedy arrival. But little did they know just how God would answer that prayer.

Just after the fireworks died down on New Year’s Eve, in the wee hours of the night at 2 a.m., contractions started slowly. Ali tried to sleep through them but got up about an hour later. They suddenly intensified and she called her midwife Miranda around 3:40 a.m., who gave her the green light to meet at the hospital. Ali woke up Lee, who got the bags in the car and started it up. When he came back inside, the mood intensified, and Ali knew something had shifted. A wave of pressure at 3:57 a.m. prompted an urgent call back to midwife Miranda and then EMS. This baby wasn’t waiting! With expert over-the-phone instruction, a big push delivered the baby into Lee’s hands at 4:05 a.m. EMS arrived a few minutes later to supervise and oversee the safety of mom and baby.

Thanks to a capable support team, they are doing well. Ali added, “All our waiting led up to this. Now, we can just celebrate the healthy arrival of baby Greta. We’re nicknaming her ‘little firecracker’ because she knew how to get the 2022 New Year started with a bang!”

Congratulations to the Von Hofe family and their medical team!

Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital