Photo By NMCCL Public Affairs | Medical equipment is on display at the first Premature Cardiac Death in Eastern...... read more read more
In order to implement effective, long-term change, a solid plan with a passionate team is necessary.
The Premature Cardiac Death in Eastern Carolina Symposium on May 8, gathered more than 200 medical providers, educators and exhibitors, both civilian and active duty, to devise plans to combat premature cardiac death in the area.
Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune partnered with co-hosts Eastern Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and Eastern Area Health Education Center to create the inaugural event presented at Marston Pavilion aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
The all-day event provided health care workers and providers with opportunities to not only learn about some of the research currently in progress about the staggering number of premature cardiac deaths (PCD) in Eastern Carolina, but also ideas and techniques on how to fight one of Onslow County’s most sudden killers.
A key focus of the symposium was to bring together representatives from across Eastern Carolina in an collaborative effort to not only educate those at risk for premature cardiac death, but also how medical providers can encourage the community to get involved in fighting PCD.
“Events like these allow us to learn from one another. We each bring something unique, different capabilities to the table, and today we have an opportunity to share those talents and education,” said CAPT James Hancock, Commanding Officer of Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune in his welcoming address. “The future of health care in Eastern North Carolina depends on us working side-by-side. By collaborating together, our facilities can provide Eastern Carolina with complete, comprehensive health, medical and trauma services.”
More than a dozen presenters from across the area shared vital information such as management of coronary disease, the use of supplements and how they affect cardiac health, sudden cardiac cases in active duty military and cardiac episodes in athletes.
A collection of the presenters focused on how community members can help save lives during cardiac emergencies.
NMCCL Emergency Department Director CDR Joseph Kotora introduced the idea of bystanders intervening and drastically contributing to the number of lives saved from sudden cardiac emergencies.
According to Kotora, two thirds of all cardiac emergencies that occur in public are unaided by bystanders.
“Only a third of people are getting CPR from bystanders,” said Kotora. “…People are afraid of hurting the person…We have to teach people that something is better than nothing.”
Not only can bystander intervention, such as basic CPR, greatly increase the survival probability of the patient, but it can also prevent serious side effects after recovery, providing the patient with a greater quality of life post-event.
Several other presenters spoke to why and how to educate bystanders during cardiac emergencies.
A presentation by Jessica Ford, Assistant Professor at ECU and Clinical Health psychologist, introduced the Lincoln Project, which is a survey-based project aimed at finding and reversing the high number of premature natural deaths in Onslow County.
“Needs assessment surveys will be a main focus of hoping to eliminate sudden death,” said Ford. “These surveys will give us additional information these communities to a help us identify why sudden death is happening at the rate it is.”
The surveys focus on basic demographics, health and behavior factors that could contribute to sudden cardiac death such as heart disease or smoking, and involvement with the health care system.
These surveys will also identify those within a community that are veterans, and potentially expand into how various exposures during combat correlate to sudden unexpected cardiac death, Ford explained.
Irion “Chip” Pursell, who is lead on the Lincoln Project furthered the discussion of the project and advised how the community health leaders present can help reduce premature natural deaths (PND).
“As a community we cannot only focus on acute health care, but chronic health as well,” said Pursell.
Such programs as preventative health can be vital to providing chronic health education and control.
Pursell discussed the high number of individuals who have died of PND are alone and very much uninvolved with the health care system, therefore not receiving care that may have been beneficial to preventing their untimely death.
Many individuals have isolated themselves from society, not venturing out to receive not only health care, but also the social interaction that Pursell and his team, among other medical providers, agree directly affects cardiac health.
Establishing systems of volunteer health care workers who visit those who have social isolated themselves not only provide necessary social interaction to improve cardiac health, but also raises the possibility of intervening in a possible cardiac emergency that cause PND.
“These groups of VHCW can help shift the responsibility of patient engagement of the health care system to the community,” said Pursell. “We need communities to begin work on preventative education, and establishing these HCW that can engage with socially isolating individuals. The community should be the focus of prevention and early intervention for PND.”
In a video address to those in attendance, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) spoke to the importance of the presentation topics to not only the general community population, but the military presence as well.
“By allowing medical professional from the military and private sectors to join together we are creating opportunities to save lives, not only on the battlefield, but also for the residents of Eastern North Carolina,” said Tillis.
In addition to providing presentations and exhibits pertinent to fighting the high rates of sudden expected cardiac death in Eastern Carolina, nurses were able to receive educational credit and contact hours for attending the event.
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2018 14:12 |
| Story ID: | 278845 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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