Under the direction of Dr. Paul Sandhu, a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, Redeemer Health has expanded the treatment options available for those who cope with arrhythmias.

An arrhythmia is defined as an abnormal heart rhythm, which results from a problem within the electrical conduction system of the heart, ranging from the heart beating too fast, too slow, or in an irregular pattern.

Fortunately, many arrhythmias are considered harmless and do not require treatment. However, some arrhythmia issues can put you at risk for more serious complications.

For those arrhythmias that do need treatment, Dr. Sandhu says options at Redeemer Health include:

• Leadless pacemakers - a small device that sends slight electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a suitable heart rate
• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) - a device that helps the heart beat more efficiently and with better synchrony in certain heart conditions
• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) - a device that tracks heart rhythm and delivers very brief electric shocks for life-threatening heart rhythms to the heart muscle to make it beat in regular rhythm again
   

“Arrhythmias can have an immense impact on one’s quality of life,” says Dr. Sandhu, who has brought ICD technology to Redeemer Health. “I’m excited to be able to offer this procedure that may provide immediate and dramatic relief from a potentially life-threatening problem, right here at Holy Redeemer Hospital.”

Click here to learn more about cardiology care at Redeemer Health.

The heart is a remarkable, fist-sized organ that pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body to sustain life. Under normal circumstances, it beats 100,000 times per day, pumping five or six quarts of blood each minute, which equates to about 2,000 gallons per day!

The heart beats in a regular rhythm and at a rate that is appropriate for the work the body is doing. The electrical conduction system of your heart initiates each heartbeat and creates signals that trigger the heart to pump.

But what happens if your heart has an abnormal rhythm?

What is an arrhythmia and how is it diagnosed?

Abnormal heart rhythms –known as arrhythmias –result from a problem within the electrical conduction system of the heart, which can range from the heart beating too fast, too slow, or in an irregular pattern.

Arrhythmias can often go unnoticed and exhibit no apparent symptoms. However, if symptoms do present, they can include any of the following:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpations (a feeling of skipped heartbeats, fluttering, or racing)
• Chest pain or tightness
• Passing out

Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms so they can perform a comprehensive history and physical examination. Your doctor may prescribe testing to help diagnose an arrhythmia, such as an electrocardiogram (or EKG), Holter monitor, event recorder, echocardiogram, and/or stress test.

What treatments are available?

Fortunately, many arrhythmias are considered harmless and do not need treatment. However, some arrhythmia issues can put you at risk for more serious complications. It’s important to know there are treatment options, including medications, device therapy that can modulate the heart’s electrical activity, and catheter ablation (where a short circuit arrhythmia can be targeted and eliminated directly from inside the heart), to help provide immediate and dramatic relief from a potentially life-threatening problem.

Harpaul Sandhu, MD, FHRS, a Redeemer Health board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist, echocardiographer, and nuclear cardiologist specializes in testing for, diagnosing, and treating abnormal heart rhythms. He points out some treatment options, all available at Redeemer Health, that include:

•Leadless pacemakers – a small device that sends slight electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a suitable heart rate

•Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) – a device that helps the heart beat more efficiently and with better synchrony in certain heart conditions.

•Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) – a device that tracks heart rhythm and delivers very brief electric shocks for life-threatening heart rhythms to the heart muscle to make it beat in regular rhythm again.

To learn more about Redeemer Health’s expert testing, diagnosis, and treatment for life-threatening arrhythmias, visit https://www.redeemerhealth.org/services/health-care/heart-care or call 215-436-1420.

The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. 

Reduce Your Exposure

We have all become very comfortable with the precautions put in place because of the COVID virus and these same steps can limit our exposure to the flu. 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after washing your hands.
• Keep a physical distance of six feet. 
• Try to stay away from sick people.
• Wear a face mask indoors. 

Get a Flu Vaccination

The flu vaccine is easily accessible and, should you catch the flu, can help reduce the severity. Studies show that when people receive the vaccine the need to go to the doctor because of flu is reduced by half and visits to the hospital’s intensive care unit are reduced by more than 80%. Building up immunity takes up to two weeks to develop after vaccination, so it’s best to get your flu shot as soon as possible.

"The vaccine is especially important for people 65 and older, as they have a higher risk of developing serious complications from the flu and should get the vaccine," says Dr. Merlyn S. Manattu, a primary care physician at Redeemer Health Family Medicine - Bensalem. "Everyone should get a flu shot, but it is more important for people who have chronic medical conditions since the flu can cause serious complications that could lead to hospitalization and sometimes, even death."

The Flu and COVID

Both illnesses can present with fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and fatigue. Fortunately, doctors can simultaneously test for COVID-19, flu, and even RSV, a common virus that infects the respiratory tract, to quickly discern a diagnosis and begin a treatment plan. "You can catch COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. And the impact could be more severe, resulting in great strain on your respiratory system," says Dr. Manattu. "The best line of defense is to get the flu vaccine to help protect yourself and others around you.

If Illness Should Occur

If you have flu-like symptoms drink plenty of fluids, take over-the-counter medications to relieve fever, aches, pains, congestion, and coughing, and stay home and rest until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.
    
People at high risk of complications from a virus, including young children, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions, should contact their doctor as soon as they begin to have flu symptoms. For others, you should see your doctor if your flu symptoms are not improving with over-the-counter treatments. Seek emergency care if you have a fever over 102 degrees, persistent vomiting, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or very swollen glands in your neck or jaw.

If you have not scheduled your flu vaccine yet, contact your primary care physician. If you have received your flu shot from another location, let your primary care team know to add it to your medical records. If you need a primary care physician referral, contact the Redeemer Health Information line at 1-800-818-4747. 
 

We all can remember one or two people who inspired us deeply, touched our spirits, shaped our thoughts and made us want to be like them. To the Sperger siblings, John, Mike, Father Herb, and Mary Jean, that person was Aunt Bernie. 

Aunt Bernie, also known as Sister Jean, was a member of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer, for 35 years, as well as a licensed practical nurse. She cared for and comforted patients and families during one of the most difficult time of their lives – the journey of facing terminal cancer.

Sister Jean grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin in a fun-loving, close-knit family of nine children. She spent a year at teachers college and worked as a bookkeeper for several companies before finding her vocation. The self-described free spirit said she “prayed that God would give me something to fill my life.”

Surprising her family and friends, she joined the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and worked in a number of Hawthorne Dominican Homes, including in Philadelphia. Her nurturing and care made a lasting impression on so many patients and their loved ones.

The 50th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Herbert and Maria, parents of the Sperger children, were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 1996. Father Herb, a former chaplain with Redeemer Health, suggested to his siblings that they could commemorate this special occasion and continue the legacy of Sister Jean, who died of cancer in 1991 at age 68, by creating an endowment fund. 

Father Herb and his siblings created The Sister Jean Endowment Fund to benefit hospice patients and their loved ones, especially those facing financial difficulties. Friends and family members gave donations in lieu of anniversary presents to help establish the fund. 

Now in its 25th year, the Sister Jean Endowment continues to provide much-needed dollars that make it possible for patients and families — at a deeply vulnerable time — to receive strength and support from a hospice team that nurtures their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

With community resource funding very limited, the Sister Jean Endowment has been a godsend for families without means, said Penny Farrell, a social worker with Redeemer Health. “This fund allows patients to die at home as they want, as their choice,” Penny said. “That is the overall major benefit of this program.”

For example, the Sister Jean Endowment helped a dying woman whose grown children lived at a distance, Penny said. The woman could not afford private care but through the fund was able to get support services so she could stay at home with her two dogs, which was very important to her. 

This year, the Sperger family expanded the use of the fund to assist not just hospice patients with cancer but also those with any terminal diagnosis, including heart disease, dementia and respiratory illnesses, said Redeemer Health Hospice Director of Clinical Operations Coleen McCann, RN, MSN. “Cancer is not our number one diagnosis anymore,” Coleen said.

There also are plans to tap into the fund to be able to send an aide to sit with a person in the hospital who can’t go home until their pain or anxiety is under control, she said. The family also approved use of the fund to assist with programmatic needs, such as ongoing education for hospice team members, Coleen said.

Over the years, the Sperger family’s inspirational gesture has touched countless families who need support during their hospice journey. Their generosity helps us fulfill our mission to care, comfort and heal.

The Legacy of Giving Across Generations

The Sperger siblings’ compassion and generosity are inspiring the next generation of the family.

Michael, the eldest grandson of Herbert and Maria, and his cousins continue Sister Jean’s legacy and pass along the call to care for others in need to the following generations. The family’s gifts bring great joy to many families and memorialize the devotion and spirit of Sister Jean.

 “Through the encouragement of my father, aunts and uncles, we have grown up very close and are faithfully connected to the work of caring for others,” Michael said.

We invite you to inspire others by getting involved and making a difference individually or with your family. Please contact the Redeemer Health Office of Philanthropy at 215-914-4000 or giving@holyredeemer.com, or visit httpps://www.redeemerhealth.org/giving/ways-give.
 

Holy Redeemer Hospital has earned several formal distinctions by The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for achievement in stroke care and diabetes care. 

The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, as well as the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award, attest to our commitment to provide the most appropriate treatment to patients according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

“We are dedicated to delivering the best care to our patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Initiative,” says Kisha Martin, MD, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Holy Redeemer Hospital. “The tools and resources provided help us monitor and measure our success utilizing the most up-to-date clinical guidelines developed to improve patient health outcomes.”

Holy Redeemer Hospital also received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award, a distinction that signified stringent compliance with a series of quality measures. 

In addition to care for a wide variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, Redeemer Health primary care providers treat and help to manage diabetes, as well as other factors that can put a person at risk for a stroke, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Additionally, the health system offers a Diabetes Management program, which provides guidance and education to people living with diabetes. For more information, visit RedeemerHealth.org or call 1-800-818-4747.
 

Holy Redeemer Hospital has earned several formal distinctions by The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for achievement in stroke care and diabetes care.

For stroke care, the hospital earned The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, as well as the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award. Both awards signal our commitment to provide treatment that follows nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

“We are dedicated to delivering the best care to our patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Initiative,” says Kisha Martin, MD, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Holy Redeemer Hospital. “The tools and resources provided help us monitor and measure our success utilizing the most up-to-date clinical guidelines developed to improve patient health outcomes.”

Should a stroke emergency occur, patients can feel confident that Holy Redeemer Hospital’s Emergency Department has the knowledge and resources to provide the most effective, immediate care and treatment.

For diabetes care, the Hospital received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award, a distinction that signifies stringent compliance with a series of quality measures.

In addition to expert, compassionate care for a wide variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, Redeemer Health primary care providers treat and help to manage diabetes, as well as other factors that can put a person at risk for a stroke, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. To find a Redeemer Health primary care provider, visit our provider directory.

Additionally, people coping with diabetes appreciate Redeemer Health’s Diabetes Management program, which offers valuable guidance and education about living with this condition.
 

Redeemer Health now offers minimally invasive surgical options that often result in minimal to no scarring and faster recovery time. Candidates for this surgery include individuals who need gynecologic, urologic, thoracic, cardiac, and general surgical procedures.

Surgeons will use a recently acquired structure known as the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System to aid in this surgery. The most advanced da Vinci System available, its 3D-HD magnification and sophisticated instrumentation extend the capabilities of a surgeon’s eyes and hands. Surgeons can magnify the view of a surgical area 10 times to what the human eye sees, and with the assistance of this magnification, use tiny, wristed instruments that move like a human hand, but with far greater motion and precision.

“It is vital to provide patients with as many treatment options as possible to make sure they receive care specifically tailored to their needs,” says Catherine Cahill, DO, General Surgeon with Redeemer Health Surgical Associates and the Division Chief of General Surgery and Chair of Robotics Program, Holy Redeemer Hospital. “With the da Vinci robot, we now can provide patients with close-to-home, robotic-assisted surgical care allowing our patients to return to their daily lives more quickly and with less narcotic pain medication following a procedure."

To learn more about Redeemer Health’s minimally invasive surgical options, please call Redeemer Health Surgical Associates at 215-938-3145.

Holy Redeemer Hospital now provides minimally invasive surgical options for gynecologic, urologic, thoracic, cardiac, and general surgical procedures. A highly desirable option for many patients, this type of procedure often results in minimal to no scarring and faster recovery times.

Redeemer Health is able to offer this capability through its recent acquisition of the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System, a sophisticated structure that extends the capabilities of a surgeon’s eyes and hands. The System provides surgeons with a view of a surgical area that is magnified 10 times to what the human eye sees. Through small incisions and with the assistance of this 3D-HD magnification, surgeons use tiny, wristed instruments that move like a human hand, but with far greater motion and precision.

“It is vital to provide patients with as many treatment options as possible to make sure they receive care specifically tailored to their needs,” says Catherine Cahill, DO, General Surgeon with Redeemer Health Surgical Associates and the Division Chief of General Surgery and Chair of Robotics Program, Holy Redeemer Hospital. “With the da Vinci robot, we now can provide patients with close-to-home, robotic-assisted surgical care allowing our patients to return to their daily lives more quickly and with less narcotic pain medication following a procedure." 

For more information about the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System, contact Redeemer Health Surgical Associates at 215-938-3145.
 

Why Make the Move to a Senior Living Community?
How many times have you dreamed of a lifestyle that frees you from the drudgery of housework, home repair, lawn care, and snow removal? This kind of maintenance doesn’t get easier as we mature. If you’ve resigned yourself to coping with these unpleasantries, we’re here to tell you there is another option: the lifestyle afforded by a senior living community!

Besides an enticing array of floorplans, life in a senior living community includes an ideal blend of amenities, features, and conveniences that erase the need for home maintenance, keep you safe, and give you time to enjoy the things you love to do. Here are the top reasons why people choose to make the move to a senior living community:

Variety of Floorplans to Suit Many Needs and Budgets
To start, many senior living communities offer a range of floorplans, so depending on your desire for space and privacy you can choose between studios and apartments of many different sizes, and in some communities, even a variety of single-family cottages.

For example, Lafayette offers 10 different studio and apartment floorplans that range from 355 to 1,004 square feet and feature bright, open layouts—plus so much more according to Claudia Fisher, Residential Sales Coordinator.

“Our apartments have so many great features, with top highlights being their tasteful interior finishes done in an attractive neutral palette, newly renovated modern kitchens, ample storage, and important safety features like emergency pull cords, smoke detectors, and automatic sprinklers. Even more, residents love the beautiful view of Pennypack Park, which surrounds our grounds.”

No More Home Maintenance!
Home maintenance will become a thing of the past. Most senior living communities offer inclusive, “built-in” conveniences like housekeeping, linen service, trash removal, mowing, weeding, and landscaping. The particulars and frequency of each service vary by community so when speaking with a senior living sales agent be sure to inquire about the exact nature and regularity of these conveniences. At Lafayette, you can count on weekly housekeeping, linen service, and trash removal, plus our grounds are beautifully maintained by professional landscapers throughout every season.

Delicious Chef-Prepared Meals Every Day 
While you’ll likely have a fully equipped kitchen in your apartment, you can forgo the pots and pans—and after-dinner cleanup—every day or whenever you wish! A popular amenity you’ll find in many senior living communities is restaurant-style dining. You can enjoy a fresh, chef-prepared meal which many times is included in your monthly fee. Many communities offer a savory menu of choices that are served in well-appointed dining rooms that have the ambiance of a fine restaurant. Additionally, you’ll likely find options for more casual dining via in-house bistros, cafes, and/or grab-and-go choices. At Lafayette, you’ll find a delicious, varied menu of fresh choices every day of the week.

A Wide Array of Social and Leisure Opportunities Right at Your Fingertips
Senior living communities make available many opportunities to cultivate or re-discover enjoyable hobbies and pastimes, explore local shopping and attractions (without you having to arrange transportation and/or make reservations), and meet new friends. Whether you are looking for exercise and wellness opportunities, want to delve into the performing or fine arts, enjoy social gatherings, or desire a trip to the theater, you’ll find a packed calendar of programs and events. At Lafayette, our monthly activity calendar usually offers many events and activities, including live, on-site entertainment by vocalists, musicians, and other performers.

Safety
This advantage brings priceless peace of mind to residents and their families. Most senior living communities have crucial safety features built into apartments like grab bars, safety rails, emergency pull cords, and sprinkler systems. Additionally, many communities have staff available around the clock should an emergency occur. Lafayette provides all of this, and even more! Our affiliation with Redeemer Health gives us access to the expertise and resources of a trusted health system—a status that gives Lafayette residents great comfort and confidence.

Also, as a continuing care retirement community, Lafayette is able to accommodate residents if or when their health care needs change by organizing a convenient and safe transition to on-site accommodations that can provide assistance with personal care, rehabilitation after surgery, or skilled nursing.

Want to learn more about the Lafayette lifestyle?
Schedule a personal tour today by calling 215-214-2877 or visiting redeemerhealth.org/LafayetteContactUs. 
 

Each year, millions of older adults over the age of 65 suffer from a fall, some sustaining serious injuries that impact their quality of life, mobility, and function. Understanding how certain health conditions can increase your fall risk is key to avoiding the most likely causes of falling. According to the National Institute on Aging, 6 out of every 10 falls happen in the home. Taking steps to hazard-proof your home can help eliminate risks and make it a safer environment for you and your loved ones.

Discover the Cause

If you feel unsteady on your feet or are experiencing balance issues, schedule an appointment with your physician to discuss any health conditions that may be increasing your risk of falling. Discuss your medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements. Some may cause dizziness or drowsiness, which can increase falls. Be prepared to talk with your doctor about certain health conditions that may affect your balance. For example, do you experience joint pain, numbness in your legs or feet, or shortness of breath? Certain ear and eye conditions (such as cataracts or glaucoma), may also increase your chance of falling. Get an annual vision exam and update your prescriptions as needed.

Staying physically and mentally active is linked to improved cognition, stability, balance, and strong muscles. Tai chi and yoga are particularly beneficial mind-body exercises that can help prevent falls in older adults. Talk with your doctor about the amount and type of physical activity you should incorporate into your daily routine.

Create a Safe Home Environment

Keeping your home hazard-free is one of the best ways to prevent falls, and there are easy ways to make your home safer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a Home Fall Prevention Checklist, and its items include:

• Removing clutter, electrical cords, and below-eye-level furniture (such as coffee tables) from your walking path to avoid tripping.
• Making sure furniture is at the right height to avoid overreaching and placing items easily within reach.
• Keeping your home brightly lit and make lighting easily accessible. Place a lamp within arm’s reach of your bed. Turn on lights before going up or downstairs, and install nightlights in your bedroom, bathrooms, and hallways. 
• Avoid slipping by securing loose rugs, using nonslip mats in your bathtub or shower, and cleaning up spills immediately. 
• Add handrails on the stairs and grab bars in the bath and shower. 

When to Consider Assistive Devices and Rehabilitation Services

If you’re at an increased risk of falling, your doctor may recommend assistive devices to keep you mobile and maintain your balance. Canes and walkers increase stability when you walk, while bathroom items such as a raised toilet seat and bath seat for showering make these activities safer when standing is a challenge. Handrails on both sides of the stairs and grabbers for items on shelves and floors are other beneficial assistive devices to help maintain independence. Your doctor may recommend occupational therapy or physical therapy in the home to ensure preventative measures are in place and to create a program to improve your mobility. 

Your physician may also prescribe occupational and/or physical therapy. These therapists will evaluate your needs and develop a customized program to fit your goals and abilities. Occupational therapy helps patients achieve and maintain independence in daily activities. Physical therapy improves and restores mobility, movement, strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. 

Redeemer Health Home Care offers a full range of rehabilitation programs and services that care for patients at every stage along their health care journey. Providing an assessment within your home offers greater insight into your needs within your own environment. Our team of clinicians can help patients implement preventative strategies to reduce the risk of falling and develop a customized plan to safely manage daily activities. 

If you have questions about Redeemer Health Home Care, please visit our website, redeemerhealth.org/homecare, or call 888-678-8678.