Redefining Heart Failure Care: How the McLaren Greater Lansing Clinic Puts Quality of Life First
For patients living with congestive heart failure, staying well often requires close attention to symptoms between medical appointments. McLaren Greater Lansing’s Congestive Heart Failure Clinic offers individualized care designed to help patients manage the condition and reduce avoidable hospital visits. The program emphasizes follow-up, medication management and monitoring for changes that may signal worsening heart function.
Cardiologist Dr. Awais Kang is among the clinicians involved in the clinic’s approach.
Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood effectively enough to meet the body’s needs. Patients may experience fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling and fluid retention. Symptoms can change over time, making regular communication with a care team important. The clinic’s goal is to identify concerns early and adjust treatment when appropriate.
McLaren describes monitoring patients’ weight, fluid levels and medication needs as important parts of the program. A sudden change in weight or swelling may indicate that fluid is accumulating. Clinicians may adjust diuretic medications, which help the body remove excess fluid. Physician assistant Alison Smith has also described clinic-based intravenous diuretic treatment as an option for selected patients.
The clinic’s work extends beyond treatment provided during an office visit. Staff may follow up with patients after hospitalization and continue monitoring their progress. This approach is intended to help patients understand changes in their condition and respond to symptoms promptly. It also gives clinicians opportunities to review medications and address concerns before they become emergencies.
McLaren also describes the use of CardioMEMS technology for certain patients with heart failure. The system uses an implanted sensor to measure pressure in the pulmonary artery. Information transmitted from the patient’s home can help the care team recognize pressure changes that may occur before noticeable symptoms develop. Clinicians can use those readings, together with other clinical information, when evaluating treatment adjustments.
The clinic’s emphasis on monitoring and timely intervention reflects the challenges of managing a chronic condition. Patients may need continuing support rather than relying solely on hospital-based care. McLaren Greater Lansing presents its heart failure program as one way to coordinate that support and improve quality of life. The Chronicle will continue following local efforts to expand access to ongoing cardiovascular care.
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