Cardiology

For the past 11 years, Underwood’s Food & Nutrition worker, Rosalind Jackson, had no idea she would be making sandwiches for the very doctor that saved her life. 

December 2, 2011 started off as any usual day, until Jackson realized she had severe pain in her back and chest. Thinking she had a slight case of pneumonia or a badly pulled muscle, Jackson called out of work hoping the pain would subside. 

Fortunately Jackson decided to go see Kathleen Curtis, APN-C, at the hospital’s Convenient Care Center, who, after performing an EKG, advised her to go immediately to the Emergency Department with a possible heart attack. “Kathleen went above and beyond her role. She became my friend. I was scared for my two cats, Kippie and Fannie, but Kathleen assured me that, she, herself, would check on my cats. Now that’s a caring nurse.”

In less than one hour, Nicholas Dalsey, DO, Emergency Medicine, examined Jackson and performed a series of tests. However, Jackson knew she was in for the ride of her life when she saw the defibrillator.  

Jackson realized time was of an essence when she was wheeled into the Cardiac Cath Lab. She appreciates the precision and accuracy that Kurt W. Kaulback, MD, Cardiology, provided during her angioplasty.   A total of four stents were needed to correct the 95 percent blockage in her heart artery.   

“Dr. Kaulback comforted me and truly kept me at ease. He is a dedicated doctor and I don’t want his good deeds to go unnoticed.”

Rosalind Jackson was given a second chance at life. This West Deptford resident enjoys cooking, baking, reading and watching runway shows. 

“Underwood- Memorial Hospital saved my life. I would not be alive right now if it wasn’t for these heroes. “

Heart attack= Damaging heart muscle= Minutes Count

Being the only hospital in Gloucester County and the neighboring counties to the south perform emergency PCI, Underwood exceeds the national guideline with a 59-minute “door-to-balloon” time.  The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association established a national standard time of 90 minutes for PCI intervention.   

 What is PCI?

Under X-ray guidance, doctors insert a balloon-tipped catheter into an artery and thread it towards the heart, and then over a wire across the narrowed artery which is causing the heart attack. The balloon inflates which widens the narrowed artery and restores blood flow. In many cases, an expandable metal mesh tube, called a stent, is inserted, using the same procedure, to keep the artery open.

 

“The entire PCI team—Emergency Department staff, Cardiac Cath Lab staff, paramedics, Dr. Unwala and me—are proud of the outstanding service we have provided to the 250 PCI patients we have cared for since June 2009,” says Kurt W. Kaulback, MD, Cardiology. “But, it is especially gratifying to know that we were able to help someone from our Underwood family.”