Community Hospital Anderson

50th anniversary celebration

Community Hospital Anderson will host a special 50th anniversary celebration featuring Grammy and Dove award winning recording artist Sandi Patty at the Anderson Paramount Theatre on Saturday, June 16 at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale.

Music will include American standards, Broadway hits and some of Sandi's inspirational classics. The program will also be a celebration of Community Hospital Anderson's 50th anniversary to include a short video presentation along with introduction of all current and former employees, physicians, volunteers and board/committee members.

All proceeds will benefit Kids Plus Children's Clinic, Coats of Caring and Park Place Community Center.

Tickets are $30, $20 and $15 and can be purchased at the Paramount Box Office or online at www.andersonparamount.org. Purchases of 10 or more tickets will receive a $5 discount per ticket. Normal service fees will apply.

Plan now to attend! It will be a great evening of music and celebration of the hospitals 50th anniversary!

Free screenings for student athletes

We're often shocked that a seemingly healthy young athlete can die suddenly on the playing field. But heart disease—the nation's No. 1 killer—doesn’t discriminate when it comes to age.

The leading cause of sudden death in young people under the age of 30 is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disorder in which the heart muscle becomes excessively thick. This asymptomatic heart condition can strike with no obvious warning signs or symptoms. Unfortunately, for victims, the first symptom can be death itself.

"Locally, we have lost young people to this silent killer," says Dick Rose, technical director of Community Hospital Anderson’s echocardiograph lab. To hopefully prevent future tragedies, Rose decided that Community Anderson should offer a free screening to detect an athlete's risk.

When ultrasound is used to examine the heart, it is known as echocardiography or an "echo." In this painless, noninvasive diagnostic test, low-power, high-frequency sound waves bounce over the heart and produce a picture that shows the thickness, size, and function of the organ. The difference between using a stethoscope—commonly used in pre-sports physicals—and an echo to examine the function of the heart is like night and day. With one, you can only listen; with the other, you can actually look inside.

Though it's often difficult to consider that someone who is apparently young and fit may be at risk, says Rose, "we feel it's important to screen our athletes prior to their participation in sports." The good news is that, if detected, even "silent" heart conditions such as HCM can be treated.

Athletes, act now

Who: Every high school athlete, male and female.

What: Free ultrasound of the heart to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). If problems are detected, the athlete will be scheduled for a full echo at a later date (charge applies). Preetham Jetty, M.D., cardiologist, will be on-site during the screenings.

When: Saturday, May 18, 8 a.m. to noon. Please specify if you prefer the male or female screening technician.

Where: Community Hospital Anderson, cardiopulmonary department (located in the main entrance).

How: Call 800-777-7775 or visit CommunityAnderson.com to schedule an appointment for this free screening. Print off the consent form located at CommunityAnderson.com and have your parent or guardian sign if they will not be present the day of the screening. Forms will also be available from area high school athletic directors.

Why: This painless, noninvasive diagnostic test can bring peace of mind to parents and athletes, and possibly save lives.

Click here to print off consent form.

Community Hospital Anderson physician participates in high profile clinical trial

Preetham Jetty, M.D., cardiologist at Community Hospital Anderson, recently participated in a local clinical trial that has the potential to benefit patients around the world in upcoming years. The ARISTOTLE trial, which was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was testing a new drug, apixaban (Eliquis) for atrial fibrillation patients. Dr. Jetty has led many clinical trials with Community Anderson’s Clinical Research Center. The ARISTOTLE trial, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, found that in patients with atrial fibrillation, apixaban was superior to warfarin (a drug currently being used) in preventing stroke or systemic embolism, caused less bleeding and resulted in lower mortality.

The ARISTOTLE trial admitted over 18,000 patients in 40 countries, including the patients at Community Clinical Research Center. Dr. Jetty was considered a top enroller within the trial, enrolling over 40 patients with atrial fibrillation. Each patient was kept on their current medication of warfarin or an investigation medication that is now in the process of being reviewed through the FDA in 2012.

Community Clinical Research Center (CCRC) has been a top enroller in several trials over the last three years. Their mission is to offer clinical trials to area residents that might not otherwise have the chance to participate. Patients benefit through research by gaining access to new treatments at no cost to them before they are widely available. Also, research patients receive top quality medical care and close monitoring by board certified physicians. Many times, patients are compensated for time and travel.

"Research is such an important part of what we do," Jetty said. "Through this trial, patients here in Anderson and surrounding areas had access to this cutting edge medication. Not only were they able to benefit their own health, but they have also helped others with their contribution to medical research."

CCRC participates in clinical trials that have been offered at Duke University, Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic. Recently Community Clinical Research Center has taken part in studies with Oxford University, Harvard and Brigham and Woman’s Hospital.

For more information regarding current trials or upcoming trials, please call 765-298-2040 or email CCRC@ecommunity.com.