Cardiologist Dr. Aws Almufleh and the Heart Function Clinic team at KHSC aren’t just educating their patients about heart failure, but also other care providers in the community.
Credit
Matthew Manor
As a cardiologist, one of Dr. Aws Almufleh’s greatest passions is identifying, treating and educating people about heart failure, and there’s a good reason why.
He says it’s one of the most under-recognized and insufficiently treated chronic conditions, with approximately 10,000 people living with it in our community.
“Heart failure is a condition when the heart is either too weak, or too stiff to be able to pump enough blood to all organs of the body. This often results in accumulation of excess fluids in the lungs, legs or in the belly. Patients feel short of breath, weak, fatigued, lose their appetite, or become bloated.
"Because most heart failure patients have multiple other health conditions, their symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases which delays the diagnosis. If not treated optimally, patients experience worsening symptoms which leads them to go to emergency departments and/or get admitted.”
That’s where Kingston Health Sciences Centre's (KHSC) Heart Function Clinic comes in.
A hidden gem (if you know, you know), Dr. Almufleh is the physician lead there and works alongside a talented team of nurse practitioners.
“The treatment of heart failure starts with patient education, lifestyle modification and specific heart medications. I have yet to see two heart failure patients who are exactly the same, so the challenge is identifying the cause in each patient, the degree of heart damage and choosing the right treatment.
“I’m very proud of the care we provide at KHSC's Heart Function Clinic and the superb patient outcomes. The most satisfying part is when we see patients in follow-ups and rejoice in how much better they feel after treatment initiation.”
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Dr. Almufleh says more than 10,000 people are living with heart failure in the community, that's why the Heart Function Clinic team is so passionate about spreading the word about the chronic condition.
Featured
Dr. Almufleh says more than 10,000 people are living with heart failure in the community, that's why the Heart Function Clinic team is so passionate about spreading the word about the chronic condition.
Featured
Dr. Almufleh says more than 10,000 people are living with heart failure in the community, that's why the Heart Function Clinic team is so passionate about spreading the word about the chronic condition.
Featured
Dr. Almufleh says more than 10,000 people are living with heart failure in the community, that's why the Heart Function Clinic team is so passionate about spreading the word about the chronic condition.
And the education doesn’t stop with patients.
Dr. Almufleh and team are creating a knowledge exchange environment, which extends beyond the walls of KHSC.
“No matter how efficient we are, we cannot see all the patients living with heart failure in the Kingston area. We’re positioning ourselves to provide education to physicians and nurse practitioner trainees, to collaborate and give guidance to primary care providers in the community, and become active in clinical research.
“It’s about delivering excellent care for all through collaboration with our community providers and ensuring the care received by patients in the community is equivalent to what we provide at the Heart Function Clinic.”
We told you he was driven, but that’s why we’re so fortunate to have Dr. Almufleh on the KHSC team.
He’s not only caring for his patients, but also helping to improve the health of our community.
