WASHINGTON (Feb. 8, 2012) — The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is partnering with the American College of Cardiology’s CardioSmart initiative, a program that encourages patients to play an active role in their own heart health, to offer free cardiovascular health screenings 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14, as part of a National Heart Health Awareness Day taking place at major health care institutions across the country.

 Members of the community will have access to body mass index measurements, glucose (non-fasting) testing, cholesterol tests, blood pressure tests and waist circumference measurements. Cardiologists and cardiology nurses will be on hand to answer questions, and patients will have access to CardioSmart educational materials that offer tips for living a heart healthy lifestyle.

The free screenings will be offered at the following two USF Health locations.  (A minimal parking fee may be required):

–          USF Health Morsani Center for Advanced Health Care, 13330 USF Laurel Drive, Tampa FL 33612

–          USF Health South Tampa Center for Advance Health Care, 2 Tampa General Circle,  Tampa, FL 33606

“Health screenings are important in helping identify people with cardiovascular disease who may not notice any symptoms yet.  Many people are not even aware of the risk factors, which include diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol,” said Arthur Labovitz, MD, FACC, chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “USF Health is committed to reaching out to the community to offer a full spectrum of services, including prevention and early detection.”

Major healthcare institutions and academic medical centers nationwide will offer similar screenings in mid-February as part of CardioSmart’s American Heart Month initiative to raise awareness of preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of heart disease — the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States.

“To reduce their risk of heart disease, people need to learn what the risk factors are, know their individual numbers associated with those risks and know how to improve those numbers if needed,” said CardioSmart Chief Medical Expert JoAnne M. Foody, MD, FACC. “Lifestyle changes that are implemented today, like eating healthy and being active, can make a measurable difference in a person’s risk for heart disease in the future.”

For more information on the cardiovascular screenings at USF Health, contact Bonnie Kirby at bkirby@health.usf.edu or (813) 259-8543.

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50^th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu

 The mission of the American College of Cardiology is to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health. The College is a 40,000-member medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The ACC provides professional education, operates national registries to measure and improve quality of care, disseminates cardiovascular research, and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit www.cardiosource.org/ACC.

Media Contacts:
Nicole Napoli, American College of Cardiology, nnapoli@acc.org, (202) 375-6523
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications, abaier@health.usf.edu, (813) 974-3303

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TAMPA, FL (April 9, 2012) – The American College of Cardiology has designated the USF Health Center of Advanced Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) as its first Center of Excellence in Education and Training.

USF Health held the grand opening for its $38 million CAMLS facility in downtown Tampa on March 30. The 90,000 square foot building brings an unprecedented level of technical and teamwork training, simulation and competence assessment under one roof, as well as significant research and device innovation capability.

Among the unique features at CAMLS will be the first hybrid catheterization lab used exclusively for training in the world. The hybrid OR allows health professionals to do both minimally invasive and open surgical procedures in the same operating room, a significant safety benefit for patients.

The hybrid catheterization lab/OR at USF Health CAMLS is the first of its kind in the world used exclusively for training. - Photo by Eric Younghans/USF Health Communications

“The American College of Cardiology is honored to designate CAMLS as our first Center of Excellence in Education and Training,” said ACC CEO Jack Lewin, MD. “CAMLS is leading the way in innovative health technology through the world’s first ever hybrid catheterization laboratory that will be used exclusively for training purposes.

“The ACC is thrilled to be a part of this new simulation program; it benefits the entire catheterization team from nurses and pharmacists to doctors,” Dr. Lewin said. “The type of personalized training offered through the new center will allow our physicians to continue on the path of advancement in quality cardiovascular care leading to better outcomes for patients.”

The ACC designation is in recognition of the realistic education and training facility offered at CAMLS and the broad-based curricula and relevant institutional and program accreditations obtained by USF Health on behalf of CAMLS.

“We’re really excited about our affiliation with the American College of Cardiology and what this partnership means for improving patient outcomes and reducing medical errors,” said Deborah Sutherland, PhD, CEO of CAMLS. “We look forward to working with the ACC to develop a host of events for cardiologists and other health professionals working in the cardiology area over the coming years.”

-USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 34th in federal research expenditures for public universities.

-The American College of Cardiology-

The American College of Cardiology (www.cardiosource.org) is a 40,000-member nonprofit medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers. The College transforms cardiovascular care and improves heart health as it supports and advocates for quality improvement, patient-centered care, payment innovation and professionalism. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet its stringent qualifications and leads the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines. It provides professional education, supports and disseminates cardiovascular research, and operates national registries to measure and promote quality.

Media contacts:
Lisa Greene, USF Health Communications, University of South Florida, lgreene@health.usf.edu or (813) 974-4312
Stephanie Abraham, American College of Cardiology, sabraham@acc.org or (202) 375-6296