How Personalized Care Kept a Drummer's Heart Safe
[DRUM BEATS]
BILL: Music is everything to me.
When I play music, I tend to forget
anything else, particularly anything that bothers me.
It was a routine checkup.
LAURA WEDDERBURN, M.D.: Bill.
How are you?
BILL: My primary care physician ordered an EKG, the results
of which concerned her greatly.
My heart was in bad shape.
[DRUM BEATS]
BILL: A heartbeat's kind of like a drumbeat.
If it's irregular, the song is going to fall apart.
[DRUMMING]
Dr. Michael Pham, right from the outset, seemed to have--
I'd have to call it a charming bedside manner.
MICHAEL PHAM, M.D.: I'm proud of you.
You need a little shave, but other than that--
PATIENT: I know.
Well, nobody here knows how to do that.
BILL: He came across with just the right sense of the gravity
of the situation.
MICHAEL PHAM, M.D.: Hi, Bill.
How are you feeling?
BILL: I'm doing fine, doctor.
How are you?
But also, the prospects for a reasonable outcome.
MICHAEL PHAM, M.D.: Bill's a great guy.
He was referred to me to optimize and adjust
his medications.
CYNTHIA WONG, Pharm.D. The great thing about medications
specifically for heart failure is
that they are disease-modifying medications, literally
life and death.
Patients do need an advocate because the insurance companies
are so complex.
BILL: My pharmacy technician always answers my calls.
LAURA WEDDERBURN, M.D.: The heart failure care pathway
is one of four care pathways that
was created through collaborating
with multiple specialists for several years.
MICHAEL PHAM, M.D.: It really ensures
that we are all aligned in terms of knowing what to do
and when to do it.
PHYSICIAN: It's a more streamlined experience
for the patient and certainly much more
gratifying for the physician.
MICHAEL PHAM, M.D.: The heart failure of care
pathway is a great example of the Power
of Practice in action.
CELESTE CHAVEZ, MSN, FNP-C: For me, the Power of Practice
symbolizes us working together as one entity.
MICHAEL PHAM, M.D.: This is the beginning of the next chapter
for us at Sutter Health.
And it's really exciting.
BILL: The care I received from Sutter Health was exceptional.
They saved my life.
[GENTLE MUSIC]
Bill Oaks, a Bay Area musician, has struck a chord of triumph in his battle with heart failure thanks to Sutter’s Heart Failure Care Pathway.
Oaks’ journey began with a routine check-up, when he received concerning results from an EKG.
“A heartbeat is like a drumbeat,” said Oaks, drawing parallels between his music and his health. “If it’s irregular, the song is going to fall apart.”
Personalized Heart Care
Oaks was in good hands with Michael X. Pham, M.D., chief of cardiology at Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center and medical director of the Advanced Heart Failure Program, and his team. They assessed Oaks and determined he might be a good candidate for advanced heart failure therapies like a heart transplant or implantation of an LVAD — a left ventricular assist device.
Dr. Pham saw Oaks monthly, adjusting his medication and providing focused, personalized care. Within six years, Oaks’ condition was stable and he no longer needed advanced therapies.
“The essence of the Heart Failure Care Pathway is really having primary care physicians, advanced practice clinicians, pharmacists, cardiologists and heart failure specialists working together,” said Dr. Pham. “This collaborative approach is vital to improving patient lives.”
Why the Heart Failure Care Pathway?
The Heart Failure Care Pathway, Sutter Health’s first care pathway, emphasizes whole-person health, focusing on prevention, diet, diagnosis, treatment, appropriate referrals and patient education. It serves as a blueprint for managing chronic conditions for large patient populations.
“A care pathway really ensures that we are all aligned in terms of knowing what to do and when to do it,” said Dr. Pham.
Since its inception in fall 2023, the Heart Failure Care Pathway has seen positive feedback from doctors and advanced practice clinicians within Sutter. With heart failure affecting an estimated 8 million Americans by 2030, and one in 10 Sutter Health patients over 65 living with the condition, this initiative is critical.
“It’s a comprehensive approach, including physician support tools, Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy optimization and patient education to ensure equitable, accessible care,” said Dr. Pham.
For Oaks, the Heart Failure Care Pathway’s whole-person approach meant exceptional care, from the doctors overseeing his treatment to the patient advocates helping him with insurance.
Oaks credits his Sutter team with not only saving his life but also helping him get back to music.
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