Expert Commentary
The Ironman of Inova: patient makes full recovery after 44 days on ECMO
Multidisciplinary care and teamwork at its finest Steve Shelton, 35, of Martinsburg, WV, made Inova history when he broke the record for Inova’s longest-ever time on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). Steve was on VA ECMO for 44 days – 10 times longer than the average duration, providing a chance for his heart and…
Read MoreKate’s complex journey reaches a new chapter with a new heart
Kate Markey is an expert at beating the odds. Although only in her early-50s, Kate is successfully managing the aftermath of cardiac amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis, having survived congestive heart failure, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a stem cell transplant and a heart transplant, all related to the condition. Her story illustrates why the coordinated, multidisciplinary care…
Read MoreIntegrated palliative care support throughout patient journey
When patients face the potential need for a left ventricular assist device or heart transplantation, Inova integrates palliative care as part of our collaborative, multidisciplinary team to ensure patients’ concerns around symptoms and goals for their care are understood by the care team. At the onset of every patient’s journey with advanced heart failure, the…
Read MoreTop five reasons to schedule your annual physical
If you had to pick one simple step that will have a big positive impact on many areas of your life, scheduling an annual physical exam with your primary care provider would be a great choice. Here are five reasons why you should make scheduling your annual physical a priority this year. 1. An annual…
Read MoreHernia surgery: what you need to know
Michael G. Svestka, MD, FACS, is a board-certified general surgeon who specializes in hernia surgery at Inova. His practice focuses on complex hernia repairs, and he is a high-volume abdominal wall reconstruction specialist with experience in both open and minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgical approaches. He sees patients in the office at Fairfax, Virginia. There are…
Read MoreNutrition nuggets: protein
Sheila Hautbois, PA-C, is a physician assistant with a master’s in public health who is also a certified health education specialist and a certified lifestyle educator. A lifestyle medicine specialist, Sheila provides personalized health coaching and patient education with the goal of preventing, treating and reversing chronic disease. Sheila is part of the Inova 360° Concierge…
Read MoreInova becomes first in the mid-Atlantic region to offer GammaTile Therapy for brain tumors
Revolutionary technology for brain tumor treatment gives Brian new hope Brian Johnson has been through a lot since he was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2016. In addition to its effect on his kidney, the cancer eventually spread to his left lung and his brain. Again and again, with the support of his wife,…
Read MoreMotivation to exercise
Sheila Hautbois, PA-C, is a physician assistant with a master’s in public health who is also a certified health education specialist and a certified lifestyle educator. A lifestyle medicine specialist, Hautbois provides personalized health coaching and patient education with the goal of preventing, treating and reversing chronic disease. Hautbois is part of the Inova 360°…
Read MoreUnderstanding common lung conditions
Lung health is crucial to overall wellbeing, yet many people are unaware of the common conditions that can affect their respiratory system. In this article, we’ll explore several prevalent lung conditions – asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis – providing an overview of their symptoms, treatments available and guidance on when to seek…
Read MoreInova opens innovative EmPATH unit to handle psychiatric emergencies
Opening in November 2024 at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, EmPATH provides patient-centered acute care for people in crisis When an individual is experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis and needs help, where can that person turn? People who are having a mental health crisis come to the emergency room (ER) for help. But if you’ve ever…
Read More