Tucson Medical Center

Afib patients now have faster, safer treatment options Atrial fibrillation (AFIB) is a condition that affects a significant portion of the population, with a lifetime risk of about 1 in 3 to 5 individuals after the age of 45. For those living with Afib recent advancements in medical technology led to more efficient and safer treatment options. One of the most promising treatments for AFIB, particularly when medication alone is insufficient, is catheter ablation. This procedure has long been a go-to solution, but the introduction of the CARTO 3 three-dimensional heart mapping system, combined with the QDOT RF (radio frequency) and Farapulse (Pulse Field) ablation catheters, has significantly improved the precision and success rates of this approach. The CARTO 3 system is a game-changer in the field of electrophysiology. It generates detailed 3D maps of the heart, which allows electrophysiologists to navigate with remarkable accuracy during both diagnosis and treatment. This enhanced precision not only increases the effectiveness of the procedure but also bolsters patient safety. In addition, the SOUNDSTAR® Ultrasound Catheter plays a critical role by providing real-time monitoring of the ablation catheter tip. This advancement reduces radiation exposure and shortens procedure times, making the treatment more accessible and less taxing for patients. Dr. Jitender Munjal, an experienced electrophysiologist and SLA medical director for cardiovascular diseases at TMC, has been at the forefront of utilizing these new technologies. “What once took half a day can now be completed in as little as 45 minutes to an hour,” Dr. Munjal shares. With over 500 ablation procedures performed in the past year alone, Dr. Munjal emphasizes the importance of early intervention to prevent serious complications such as stroke or heart failure. “The longer Afib goes untreated, the more difficult it becomes to restore a normal heart rhythm,” Dr. Munjal explains. Munjal advocates for early treatment, noting that it not only improves patient outcomes and alleviates symptoms but also reduces the reliance on ongoing medications. In his experience, 80% to 85% of patients with paroxysmal Afib achieve successful control of their condition after their first RF ablation procedure. Additionally, around half of these patients can reduce or even discontinue the use of medications such as beta blockers, antiarrhythmics and blood thinners. With September designated as Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, it’s an ideal time for those diagnosed with AFIB to explore their treatment options with their TMC provider. For more information about Afib, visit the TMC website.

Thanks ARIZONA INPATIENT MEDICINE ASSOCIATES LLC for helping us celebrate TMC Health’s history and supporting the future of healthcare in Southern Arizona!

Tucson Medical Center is proud to have sponsored the Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run, organized by the Southern Arizona Roadrunners this Labor Day. Don't miss the next opportunity to get outside and move...check runsar.org for their race calendar!

Another inspiring day of filming on the Tucson Medical Center campus. TMC Health President & CEO, Jennifer Mendrzycki, talked about the values and commitment of TMC Health that lead us everyday to care for Southern AZ families. Those same values will guide as we grow into the future, always mindful to putting your care first. As part of our 80th anniversary, we are celebrating our literal TMC family - families with multiple generations that have worked at TMC. We spoke with former doctors, nurses and staff that have worked here in the past 50 years. We were inspired by their stories of patient care, commitment to our community and love of their TMC family - literally! TV commercial debuts in November- stay tuned!

Veronica Jones was 15 and in high school when she started volunteering at Tucson Medical Center's Auxiliary Gift Shop. It was summer, and her father told her about a junior volunteer program that would offer her more to do over her break. She loved it. A few years later, after graduating and missing the TMC community where she'd volunteered, she stopped in to say hello. She was offered a job. “I was 19 years old," she said, "and I’ve been here since." Over the last 10 years as an employee, Veronica has grown to love the TMC community and what the hospital shop has to offer the many people who stop in on any given day. Sometimes it's a patient looking for a pair of reading glasses, she said, or hospital employees taking a break from long shifts to socialize and do a little shopping. The gift shop first opened in 1949 as a soda fountain for employees, with profits used to buy two much-needed incubators. After that, the TMC Auxiliary set up carts to sell books and other gifts. Eventually, a permanent gift shop opened. Following its evolution over the last 6 decades, the gift store now offers not only the usual things -- flowers and cards, balloons and books -- but also the work of local artists, and locally made jewelry. The store also carries seasonal pieces, as well as Day of the Dead items and University of Arizona shirts, hats and other UA products. Many of the customers are TMC employees, who might come in looking for a new pair of scrubs or a crossword puzzle to do on break. Veronica said the gift shop, as well as the Desert Cradle -- which sells items for babies and new parents -- is a reflection of the Tucson community overall. Patti O’Brien agrees. Patti worked as a nurse at TMC for 37 years and then returned, after a few years, to start volunteering in the gift shop. It was a place she knew well, after her years of working there. As an employee, the gift shop was “always our go-to place” for a break and a bit of relaxation, she said. Now she enjoys seeing old colleagues, meeting new ones, and helping families. “I missed being around the hospital atmosphere,” she said, “but wanted to do something completely different.” She said the gift shop is amazing because of the work Veronica and the store's manager, Deanna Baumgardner, put in to "find things that are very Tucson.” Patti volunteers one morning a week, and is also subbing in at TMC's new Rincon shop, which opened in the new TMC Rincon Health Campus in the spring. The Rincon facility is volunteer Sue Harris' regular gig now, after she first volunteered at TMC's retail store, the Teal Saguaro. The new Rincon facility is near her home, she said, and so an ideal place to be volunteering. As a retiree, Sue said she finds volunteer work with TMC a great outlet: “I love being able to socialize and connect with other people.”

TV commercial filming on TMC’s campus today featured Tucson Medical Center CEO, Maureen "Mimi" Warwick Coomler and TMC Foundation Board member, Dr. Pal Evans. We also invited several staff and TMC patients along for the fun today, too. We’re talking about the planned ED expansion and the critical role the TMC Emergency Department plays in the health of our community. In addition, we’re celebrating TMC’s 80th Anniversary by talking to current TMC staff and their relatives that worked at TMC before them. What a wonderful celebration of family and caring for Tucson and each other! We have another full day tomorrow. Commercial drops in November!

Shout out to all the breastfeeding moms during National Breastfeeding Month! TMC is here to support you with breastfeeding classes and lactation consultants. Worried about breastfeeding at work? Did you know employers have to allow for break time and offer a private place for breastfeeding moms for up to one year after giving birth? In general, most employers must provide a space—that’s not a bathroom—that is functional for pumping, free from intrusion, shielded from view and available as needed. You can learn more about your rights on the U.S. Department of Labor website. If the cost of a breast pump is a deterrent to pumping at work, contact your insurance company to find out about coverage. Most insurance companies provide a breast pump as part of the Affordable Care Act. Aeroflow Breastpumps and Edgepark are two websites that partner with insurance companies to ship breast pumps directly to patients. Also, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children may provide a breast pump to clients. Ask your WIC case manager if you are eligible or check the website for frequently asked questions about eligibility. Before your baby is born, work with your employer or supervisor to come up with a breast-pumping plan. That way you will already have a strategy in place for pumping at work. TMC is ready to help as you start this nurturing process. There are lactation consultants on staff and breast pumps are available for rent through Desert Cradle gift shop outside of the Labor and Delivery Unit. To learn more about breastfeeding, consider a breastfeeding class. You can find the class schedule on the TMC website. Happy pumping! #breastfeeding

Thanks to everyone who attended our 2024 Pediatric Mixer last week at Culinary Dropout, cohosted by Tucson Medical Center and Dr. Brian Blair of Tucson Community Pediatric Specialists!

Tucson Medical Center earned a prestigious 3-star rating, the highest possible rating, for coronary artery bypass grafting procedures recently, reflecting the high quality care TMC offers its patients and the local community.   “This achievement reflects the hard work of the whole cardiac surgery team, along with the ICU team and the cardiac care units, as well as all auxiliary services,” said Dr. George Makdisi, TMC’s chief of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Division.    The Society of Thoracic Surgery rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, Dr. Makdisi said, and includes hospitals in the United States and Canada.    The star rating is calculated using a combination of quality measures. Three stars is the highest level that can be achieved, and it means the hospital exceeded the 97.5 percentile of all participating hospitals.      “There are a lot of hospitals that don’t do this because they know they are not able to achieve a high level,’’ he said.    Dr. Makdisi, who has been with TMC for two years, said support from TMC leaders was essential in reaching this goal, which took about 3 years to achieve.    “They made significant changes within the cardiac surgery team to further enhance patient care, protect and sustain trust and credibility rather than focusing on volume and profitability,” he said of TMC leadership. “It’s not one person, it’s teamwork and all the teams have to step up to do the work.”    Dr. Makdisi received his medical degree from the University of Damascus in Syria, where he completed general surgery residency. He next moved to France where he completed a thoracic surgery fellowship and training in minimally invasive thoracic surgery in Aix-Marseille University and René Descartes University.    After his training in France, Dr. Makdisi moved to New York City for a general surgery residency, graduating from Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Makdisi also completed a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the prestigious Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, and an advanced fellowship in thoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Indiana University Health.    “Our patients as well as their families can see how TMC is performing compared to national benchmarks for overall performance, survival, complications, and other measures,” he said. “This will help them make an informed decision in seeking medical care.”   Dr. Makdisi specializes in minimally invasive thoracic and cardiac surgeries as well as heart and lung transplantation, surgical management of end-stage - and complex - heart disease, as well as cardiac reoperation surgeries along with coronary artery bypass grafting, and valve repair and replacement.    He is actively participating in the training and education of the next generations of cardiothoracic surgeons.

Thanks to Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Tucson for having Maureen "Mimi" Warwick Coomler and James Copley at their August luncheon. Mimi and James provided updates on TMC Health's commitment to our community and what's next for healthcare in Southern Arizona.