kym mcnicholas

If you have symptoms A, B, and C, it is likely your physician will follow a decision-tree that leads them to choose X as treatment. Treatment algorithms exist across healthcare. They're detailed, step-by-step flow charts that outline
the recommended treatment for patients with a specific disorder. These algorithms are a critical foundation for any physician. They're also critical for standardizing treatment around the world so as to provide equitable care. In this week's show hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips are joined by The Way To My Heart's Nurse Practitioner Kay Smith and Rush Hospital's Dr. Kumar Madassery about the value of treatment algorithms as well as where they fall short for patients, costing life and limb. They also discuss critical questions patients can ask their doctor to determine their treatment algorithm so they can weigh it against another physician who may use a different flow chart for treatment. During the Save My Piggies segment in the second half of the show, a patient, John, and his wife, Amy, who discovered almost too late that different doctors have different treatment algorithms, share their plight to save his life and limb and the importance of getting a second opinion. 

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How much easier would it be if we had instant access to our medical records, especially imaging, so we could make real-time decisions on our care and even get a second opinion in a timely manner? The reality is that although HIPAA mandates our right for access to our medical records, get copies of them, and request chances be made to them, policies differ depending on facility which hinder a patient's ability to get access real-time. Some charge to release the records, asking patients to cover the 'administrative costs.' Some wait until the very last moment to send under HIPAA's 30-day requirement between the time the request was made and honored. Some even take advantage of a one-time 30-day extension, further delaying the release of records. The delay in getting those records could cost life and limb. But there is some light on the horizon with the new Cures Act as well as innovation by entrepreneurs around medical records access. Leading the discussion is Bill Anderson, Advisor to Digicare, which is creating a platform that at its foundation democratizes access to all medical records for the patient across facilities, and even more, using a special algorithm brings the information to life by highlighting key medical terms and offering patients the ability to instantly get them defined and explained. He's also VP of
Partnerships for Briya, which allows patients, physicians, and researchers, and data analytics tools to be able to access and make sense of data from any location, in any format, in near real-time. In the last half of the show, a
patient shares her story of perseverance with Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.), a chronic circulation issue impacting mainly the legs, that impacts one in five over age 60. Diagnosed and treated at early onset of symptoms such as leg cramps and pain in the buttocks, hips, thighs, or calves, reduces a patient's risk of heart attack, stroke, and amptuation.

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Hosts Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips and Emmy Award-winning journalist Kym McNicholas are talking about innovation around ALS. Most are familiar with ALS now more than ever because o the famous internet ice bucket challenge involving the pouring of a bucket of ice water over a person's head, either by another person or self-administered, to promote awareness of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , or ALS. ALS is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle. Most people with this disease begin with muscle stiffness or weakness. But they eventually lose the ability to walk, dress, write, speak, swallow, and ultimately breathe on their own when the muscle paralysis spreads to vital organs such as the lungs. We are talking about it here on the Heart of Innovation for three reasons: First, although it's not considered a vascular disease, some researchers believe that an ALS-linked gene mutation could cause disruptions in the blood-spinal cord barrier, causing the neurovascular inflammatory response, which is ALS; Second, due to the lack of mobility as ALS progresses, many people with ALS end up with circulation issues in the legs (Circulation issues in the legs is known as peripheral vascular disease. We've talked about that at length on this show where arteries start hardening and the flaps that help usher blood flow back to the heart start malfunctioning.); Third, innovation around treatment and disease management has led to a longer, better quality of life for people with ALS due to organizations such as the Gleason Foundation, founded by former New Orleans Saints NFL great Steve Gleason. Kearney Gray, Director of development for the Gleason Foundation talks about how patient-driven innovation with communication and mobility are helping patients to live a longer, better quality of life. The Gleason foundation has played an integral role in raising the patient voice to create change in care, empowering companies to create new, novel approaches to improving communication for people with ALS, and not only educating lawmakers on ALS, but inspiring them to take action to help elevate care. Dietitian Melissa Hooper also joins the discussion to talk about the importance of nutrition in slowing the progression of disease and improving the quality of life of people with ALS. Since people with ALS maintain their cognitive ability throughout disease progression, knowing what's to come and what's happening can impact mental well-being. So, Kathryn Walker, CEO, MSN-Anesthesia, MSN-Psychiatry, at mental wellness treatment centers, Rivatalist, adds to the conversation with available options to improve mental health.

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Having a chronic illness and/or a surgical procedure can be scary. In this episode of the Heart of Innovation, we are talking about pre and post surgery stress and anxiety, especially tomophobia, 'the fear of surgery'. In the hospital, people are given medicine to help them sleep or sedatives to put them at ease. At home, it's not always as easy. Either way, many times the hurry up and wait game for any procedure is sure to put you on edge. The Way To My Heart Nurse Practitioner Kay Smith along with CRNA Kathryn Walker, CEO of Rivitalist , a group of mental wellness centers and her colleague Beth Ward, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) talk to hosts Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips about how to discuss doubt, fears, and anxiety with your healthcare team. They also offer tangible, actionable ways in which you can put yourself at ease pre and post surgery.

Grady, a family member of a patient who is now recovering from open heart surgery kicked off the discussion with a candid description of his experience leading up to his brother's procedure. He discussed the fear driven by the procedure itself but also the revolving door of physicians, the numerous pre-operative tests, the gaps in communication at times, and worries about what happens if treatment doesn't work. He also drove home the importance of a patient's healthcare team to recognize the stress and anxiety of a patient's family and to keep them in the loop to ensure all are on the same page so they can more effectively support the patient and help accelerate versus hinder the healing process.

Marcia, a patient with peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.), asked the therapists and Dr. Phillips about how to deal with post-surgery symptoms and the emotional stress that comes with so many questions that may arise between appointments with her healthcare team. Most patients don't have a physician or clinician on speed dial every single time a question pops up. So, what might be a small, normal post-surgery side effect, can be magnified the longer a patient waits for an answer.

A big takeaway from CRNA Kathryn and LCSW Beth is to recognize that stress, anxiety, and fear step from worrying about the future and things you can't control. They say the key is to focus on what you can control. Draw a circle on a piece of paper and place inside the circle all of the things you are worried about that YOU can actually do something about. That includes planning for options to accelerate recovery, such as starting to contemplate rehab possibilities, setting up a meeting with a dietitian,

obtaining items for improved comfort and mobility at home, etc. Focus on those. For the others, sit down and come up with questions that may arise around them which can be discussed with your healthcare team or that of your family member.

In summary, it's most important to not burden yourself with regrets of the past and the 'what if's' of the future. Catch them coming into your mind, and remind yourself to look for things that are within your power tand control to change and do right now.

For more, listen to this powerful conversation:

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Douglas is on deck for open heart surgery and decided to join the show just minutes before air time to inspire others by sharing his courageous journey. He heard that Dr. Mehrzad Zarghouni, Interventional Radiologist with Houston Vein & Vascular, was going to be on the show as co-host since Dr. Phillips was on call and taking care of an urgent heart patient at Ohio Health, and he popped on just before our producer Aikman did the final countdown. Douglas wanted to thank Dr. Z, who was named U.S. Vascular Doctor of the Year 2022 by advocacy nonprofit The Way To My Heart, for saving his life. Douglas had shown up to see Dr. Z a few months ago for a procedure to unblock arteries in his legs because of a disease known as Peripheral Artery Disease, which is defined by plaque build-up in mainly the leg arteries which restricts blood flow, causing debilitating pain. Douglas seemed off that morning and was complaining of fatigue and chest pain. Dr. Z sent him immediately to the emergency department and called a friend, an Interventional Cardiologist, who was on call that day who was able to get diagnosed and stabilized. Douglas has a very rare apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is when the walls of the heart become thicker than they should be. This excessive thickening can cause the heart to become more stiff and leaves less room for blood to fill the heart. Douglas is now on deck for open heart surgery next week to improve his prognosis. During the show Douglas was able to ask our guest panel questions to ease his fears about the procedure and the aftermath. The Way To My Heart Nurse Practitioner Kay Smith was able to provide an in-depth explanation of Douglas' situation. Then Nurse Practitioner/CRNA Kathryn Walker, who's also CEO of Revitalist, a group of mental wellness treatment centers, walked Douglas through what to expect from the moment he's wheeled down to the operating room clear through recovery. Dietitian Melissa Hooper (www.dietitianmelissa.com) answered Douglas' questions about how to improve his health following open heart surgery. Also, in the show's Save My Piggies segment, Dr. John Corl, Interventional Cardiologist with Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio is joined by his patient Marcia to talk about how the right doctor and "modern medicine" changed her life and made her "new" again.

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When your physician says "Walking is the best medicine" for treating Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.), they're right. P.A.D. is defined by a narrowing of the arteries, mainly in the legs, due to plaque build-up. When flow is
restricted, muscles, organs, and tissue are starved of critical nutrients, including oxygen. This may cause symptoms, such as leg pain and cramping when walking (claudication). Even worse, it could prevent the healing of sores on your feet, leading to ischemia, meaning tissue loss. Wounds need oxygen to heal. Your body does have a back-up system. It's the collateral network, known as your body's "natural bypass." During this episode, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips talk to Interventional Radiologist Dr. Lorenzo Patrone, 2022 European Patient
Champion and 2020 Global Vascular Doctor of the Year, about why walking is the best medicine for peripheral artery disease and other circulation issues. Mass General Hospital Vascular Surgeon Dr. Anahita Dua also shares
how to walk effectively to wake up and grow your collateral network to help improve circulation without intervention. In the third segment, a P.A.D. patient shares how he had a second opinion from First Coast Cardiovascular Institute Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Yazan Khatab, who saved his leg after his previous physician told him amputation was the only option because he would make more money versus performing multiple angiograms. 

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Chronic physical illness can lead to depression and anxiety, resulting in a mental health crisis which can further jeopardize a patient's health. Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips are joined by The Way To My Heart's Nurse Practitioner Kay Smith, legendary business and financial reporter Bambi Francisco (Founder and CEO of Vator.tv), and Revitalist CEO Kathryn Walker to talk about the problem and innovative solutions to improve mental health in patients with chronic physical ailments. Also, Diane, a patient with Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.), which is a
chronic circulation issue, talks about the impact of P.A.D. on her mental state and how finding the right vascular specialist who uses advanced minimally invasive tools and techniques can make all the difference in the world in not only providing pain relief but also restoring hope as well as her love life.

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Since this is the first show during Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness (P.A.D.) Month, which brings to the forefront a debilitating circulatory disorder that impacts one in five people over age 60, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips, along with Nurse Practitioner Kay Smith, are talking to Dr. Jay Matthews. Dr. Matthews is an
Interventional Cardiologist in Bradenton, Florida, whom several patients through nonprofit, The Way To My Heart's community call, "Dr. Miracle" for his limb-saving efforts for their care. He is fascinated by the innovation happening around P.A.D. and other vascular diseases and shares some of the technology that's catching his eye. Also, during the show, we talk to radio host Mike Matthews as we dedicate this show to his Mom Christa, who recently transitioned following a long battle with P.A.D.

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Type 2 diabetes and obesity are epidemics that can lead to amputation due to a common complication known as peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.), which is plaque build-up in mainly the leg arteries that restricts blood flow. But the right diet can help mitigate the risk of limb loss. Hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips are joined by Nurse Practitioner Kay Smith to chat with special guest Dr. Michael Dansinger about diabetes reversal, eating strategies for P.A.D. prevention, and the secret to weight loss based on USA Network's The Biggest Loser reality show. Dr. Michael Dansinger is Wellness Director at Boston Heart Diagnostics and Founding Director of the Diabetes Reversal Program at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He also serves on the CDC’s Expert Panel for Worksite Wellness Programs and on the Council of Directors for the True Health Initiative, a leading international voice for health and wellness. Dr. Dansinger previously served as the Nutrition and Obesity Editor for Medscape Journal of Medicine and was the principal investigator of the Tufts Popular Diet Trial comparing the Atkins, Zone, Weight Watchers, and Ornish eating plans for weight loss and heart disease risk-factor reduction (published in JAMA). Dansinger was the nutrition doctor for NBC's The Biggest Loser for 10 years and designer of the Biggest Loser Diet, which won top awards from U.S. News & World Report (including No. 1 Best Diet for Diabetes).

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Patients are on the frontlines when it comes to uncovering gaps in our healthcare system. That's why this show will feature what they have to say about how patients in the most vulnerable communities who have Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.), plaque build-up in mainly the leg arteries that restricts blood flow to the lower extremities, are treated. Live at The Way To My Heart's first in-person conference focusing on sharing cutting-edge information with patients with P.A.D., we talk to attendees about shaping the future of P.A.D. care.

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What patients say and what doctors hear is often very different. That's often the case with what doctors say and patients hear as well. During this episode, patients share stories about conversations with their doctor that have left them speechless. Hosts Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips are joined by Dr. Kirk Minkus, and Nurse Practitioner Kay Smith who will also share their most shocking conversations with patients. Plus, one patient, Douglas, shares his fight for life and limb during this week's Save My Piggies segment.

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 If you have been diagnosed with a form of vascular disease such as Heart Disease, plaque build-up that has the potential to restrict blood flow in the coronary arteries, or Peripheral Artery Disease, which impacts the leg arteries then it is likely you have plaque build-up in other vessels in the body, even those that feed the prostate. In this episode, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips are joined by board-certified Vascular and
Interventional Radiologist Dr. Charles Nutting, who specializes in prostate artery embolization (PAE) , an outpatient procedure that involves the release of microscopic, plastic beads into the arteries that feed the prostate gland. We
discuss who might be a candidate, the risks involved, how to talk to your doctor about sexual dysfunction, what might be causing it, and available treatment options. A patient, Douglas also shares his personal story, experiencing sexual dysfunction as the first sign of systemic vascular problems and how his disease evolved. Kym is also LIVE from the Vascular Institute in Sacramento, California where she observed Dr. Inder Singh saving the leg of a The Way To My Heart patient who was on deck for a below-the-knee amputation. Dr. Singh shares how he was able to restore additional blood flow to heal the wounds on the patient's foot. 

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It might be odd to think that on a show about vascular health, hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips are talking about fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in a woman's uterus. But studies show that cardiovascular risk factors were slightly more common for women with fibroids than for women without fibroids. During this episode, Kym and Dr. Phillips talk to Advanced Vascular Centers Interventional Radiologist Dr. Mary Costantino about those risk factors as well as newer, more innovative approaches to treating fibroids. 

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In the summer, your feet are exposed to the elements more often which is especially concerning for those with diabetes, neuropathy, and Peripheral Artery Disease. Podiatrist Dr. David Alper joins hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips about how to prevent common foot problems and complications. Also in this episode,      you don't want to miss our Save My Piggies segment where a patient and her doctor share an inspiring story of how a second opinion made the difference between life and limb.

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About half of those who suffer a heart attack have normal cholesterol in a basic lipid panel. It's not until advanced bloodwork is performed that they come to find out that while the quantity of LDL particles (bad cholesterol) is ok, the quality is poor. That begins the conversation on this week's show about the critical need for advanced bloodwork for those at-risk of and with vascular diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and peripheral artery disease. Hosts Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips are joined by Dr. Michael Dansinger, Medical Director of Boston Heart Diagnostics, which offers cutting-edge bloodwork for cardiovascular health. He also created a well-known diabetes reversal program for Tufts University and developed the diet for the hit TV show The Biggest Loser. They discuss newer blood markers that can help you and your doctor better understand your cholesterol, your risk for diabetes, and what's damaging your arteries triggering an inflammatory response that causes plaque to build-up and restricts bloodflow in various parts of your body. 

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Why do my veins seem bigger in the summer? That question leads Emmy Award-winning Journalist Kym McNicholas into a discussion with co-host Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips, Hill Vascular's Vascular Surgeon Dr. Bradley Hill, and The Whiteley Clinic's Dr. Mark Whitely, world renowned vein expert from London about varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, and Deep Venous Thrombosis (blood clots). They talk about the reasons why only 10% of the 30 million Americans, who are estimated to have venous issues, actually get treated. Advanced treatment options are also discussed at length. 

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Heat can increase risk for morbidity and mortality. So, in this week's show over the 4th of July Holiday weekend we are focusing on the factors that increase someone's risk of heat-related illness or death in the summer sun and how to talk to your doctor about mitigating your risk. Co-host Emmy Award-winning Journalist Kym McNicholas, Co-host Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips, and Dr. George Adams, Director of Cardiovascular & Peripheral Research and Associate Professor at Rex hospital in North Carolina don't just tell you to drink water and limit time in the sun, they discuss the mechanism of action by which heat causes blood vessels to burst, blood clots to form, and medications to adversely react with your body. Also, in this episode you don't want to miss Walking William's story of perseverance, improving his health with each step he takes. 

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This week Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips and Emmy Award-winning journalist Kym McNicholas talk about how physicians stay on the cutting-edge of treatment, especially with one of the most debilitating diseases most have never heard of yet impacts 3 in 5 heart attack sufferers and 1 in 5 over age 60, known as peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.) (plaque build-up in the leg arteries). Kym is LIVE from a conference in Italy for this broadcast where she talks to some of the most advanced physicians in the world who treat P.A.D. 

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