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AFib Care Network
Improving access to specialty care for patients with atrial fibrillation in North Carolina
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AFib Care Network
A novel system wide pathway to streamline care delivery and improve overall quality of care for patients with atrial fibrillation
Treatment
Treatment of atrial fibrillation aims to make people feel better and improve quality of life. Treatment focuses on the following:
Preventing AFib
Anyone can develop atrial fibrillation, although there are common risk factors. These include high blood pressure, sleep apnea, thyroid disease, obesity, coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart valve disease, excessive alcohol or stimulant use, prior open-heart surgery, chronic lung disease, diabetes, and age >60 years. An important part of treatment for AFib is controlling these risk factors as much as possible.
Preventing stroke
Blood can pool in the atria during AFib, which can allow a clot to form. If a blood clot dislodges from the atria, it can cause a stroke. Patients with atrial fibrillation are almost always prescribed a blood thinner medication such as warfarin (Coumadin), dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), or edoxaban (Savaysa.)
Patients who are at risk for stroke but unable to take a blood thinner may benefit from a Watchman™ left atrial appendage closure device. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small pouch in the left atrium of the heart and is the source of most stroke-causing blood clots. The device works as a plug to close the LAA, which prevents the clots from escaping the heart and travelling to the brain and cause a stroke.
Keeping the heart rate from going too fast
If left untreated, AFib can cause a fast, irregular pulse for long periods of time. This can cause the heart muscle to weaken leading to heart failure. Because of the potential for weakening of the heart muscle, it is important to keep the heart from beating too fast when in AFib.
Medications are used to slow down the heart rate. Examples of types of medications that slow down the heart rate are beta-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol), calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil), or digoxin.
Keeping the heart in normal rhythm
Patients who have symptoms and feel poorly when in atrial fibrillation may need more aggressive treatment to put them back into normal rhythm and keep them in normal rhythm. This can be done with medications, cardioversion (external shock to the heart), or catheter ablation (radiofrequency lesions made on the inside of the heart to destroy AF triggers).
How to handle an AFib Episode
One of the biggest questions is what to do during an AFib episode.
When to manage AFib at home
If you are feeling okay and it is your typical AFib episode, it is okay to wait it out at home and or go about your normal day if you feel up to it. You can try some relaxation exercises (deep breathing, imagining a peaceful place). Make notes about how long the episode lasted and how you felt to share with your provider at your next visit.
When to see or call your provider
- If symptoms get worse or you start feeling worse
- AFib lasts longer than 24 hours
- AFib episodes become more frequent
- To get an EKG to confirm that what you are feeling is AFib
- Routine follow-up
When to call 911 or go to the Emergency Room
- Signs of stroke (sudden weakness, numbness, trouble seeing or speaking)
- Passing out/nearly passing out
- Severe lightheadedness
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling weak, cold sweats, or clamminess
- Medication side-effects (bleeding, overdose)
AFib Transitions of Care Locations
AFib Transitions of Care
UNC Hospitals Heart and Vascular Center at Meadowmont
300 Meadowmont Village Circle
Suite 104
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(984) 974-7244
AFib Transitions of Care at UNC Chatham
UNC Primary Care at Chatham
163 Medical Park Drive
Suite 210
Siler City, NC 27344
(919) 663-3360
AFib Transitions of Care at UNC REX Healthcare
North Carolina Heart & Vascular, Raleigh
2800 Blue Ridge Road
Suite 400
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 787-5380
AFib Transitions of Care at Johnston Health
North Carolina Heart & Vascular, Smithfield
910 Berkshire Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 989-7909
AFib Integrated Care Locations
AFib Integrated Care
UNC Hospitals Heart and Vascular Center at Meadowmont
300 Meadowmont Village Circle
Suite 104
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(984) 974-7244
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Wednesday and Friday
8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
AFib Care Network Map
AFib Care Network Operations & Planning Team
 Anil Gehi, MD |
 Tiffany Armbruster, AGNP-C |
 Kevin Biese, MD |
 Zack Deyo, PharmD |
 Jennifer Walker, AGNP-C |
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Patient Education & Resources
The AFib Care Network has created a Living with Atrial Fibrillation patient guide. Please download a complimentary copy here.
AFib Transitions of Care
If you have been referred by your physician to AFib Transitions of Care, you can download a patient information card here. Meet the AFib Transitions of Care team in our Meadowmont, Raleigh, Chatham and Smithfield locations.
AFib Integrated Care
This new clinic offers patients referred to the program unique opportunities to participate in our AF patient support group, access to the AF self-management mobile app, in addition to receiving personalized education, care plans, risk-factor management, and comprehensive care. Talk to you provider if you are interested in a referral to the AFib Integrated Care clinic at Meadowmont. If you have been referred by your physician to the AFib Integrated Care clinic, you can meet the team here.
AF Patient Support Group
Meets quarterly
Next meeting: November 9, 2019 10 am - noon
Click here to download the presentation from the last quarterly meeting.
Research
Based on pilot data, we believe that a model of care delivery which increases access to AF specialty clinics with an easy transition from multiple points of entry (emergency department (ED), urgent care and primary care clinics) can reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and improve quality of care. Increasing specialty care access, particularly in regions serving a large vulnerable patient population, helps to reduce disparities in care. Further research efforts are under way.
Press Room
UNC AFib Care Network Launches AFib Integrated Care Clinic
Network also launches AFib support group and a smartphone app to help people with AFib manage their condition
The UNC AFib Care Network has launched a new clinic that coordinates all of the services needed by patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) in one convenient location. The new AFib Integrated Care Clinic is now open and seeing patients at 300 Meadowmont Village Circle in Chapel Hill.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Provides $1.7 million grant to UNC School of Medicine to fund program streamlining Afib care & education for underserved populations
UNC School of Medicine cardiologist Anil Gehi, MD, will use a $1.7 million grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to further innovate a care model, launched in 2015, that reduced hospitalizations for patients with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) presenting in the emergency room by more than 30 percentage points in its first year.
UNC lands $1.7M grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb (TBJ)
The UNC School of Medicine has landed a $1.7 million grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation – aimed at improving care and education for patients with atrial fibrillation (A-fib), or an irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke and heart failure, among other complications.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Provides $1.7 million grant to UNC School of Medicine (Business Wire)
The three-year grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation will enable Dr. Gehi to continue development of a new protocol he established at UNC Medical Center through a pilot grant from the UNC Center for Health Innovation and adapt and evaluate its application primary care and urgent care settings as well.
Improving Geriatric Emergency Medicine
UNC Health Care recently held a Geriatric Emergency Medicine Boot Camp to generate ideas for improving emergency care for elderly adults. The boot camp was the result of UNC Health Care’s participation in the Geriatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative, a national collaborative of health-care systems seeking to produce better outcomes for these patients.