Heart disease negatively impacts the lives of many men and women in the United States. The cardiovascular outreach team at Chester County Hospital was created to provide educational programs to help the community reduce their individual chances of heart disease. The team includes clinicians and educators from all points of care to help create a variety of programs including scheduling physician lectures, providing heart health screenings, smoking cessation classes and hands-only CPR training for emergency situations. Meet the team who makes these programs available and work every day to help our community live heart-healthy lives.
Top row, left to right: Tim Martin, Susan Pizzi, Ralph Smith, Julie Funk.
Bottom row, left to right: Adrianne Pohar, Terri McClure.
Not pictured: Donna Taylor.
Julie Funk – Director of Community Health and Wellness Services
20 Years at Chester County Hospital
What influenced you to choose your career and work in health care?
I have always maintained a strong interest in preventive medicine. My career began with cardiac rehabilitation and medical fitness and then I progressed into becoming a registered dietitian. I believe strongly that many chronic diseases can be prevented with the practice of a healthy lifestyle. Thus my passion has been to educate our community on how to begin, practice and sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Given your role, what unique perspective do you bring to the team that helps with the group’s total outreach efforts?
I am first and foremost an educator. This is true of each member of our outreach team. This collective perspective helps us to plan events and programs for our community that will reach them with an educational message that is meaningful and, hopefully, impactful.
If you were to offer one piece of advice to the community about heart health, what would it be?
From a lifestyle perspective, I would advise that in addition to being more physically active, people should consider eating more plant foods. Beans, greens and grains!
Susan Pizzi – Community Health Education Coordinator
20 Years at Chester County Hospital
What influenced you to choose your career and work in health care?
It has often been an enjoyable experience to educate community members on a variety of public health issues. When I began my career as an entry-level public health educator at the Chester County Health Department, I developed materials for nurses and health care providers to share with patients. This was a great experience because these professionals had more knowledge and expertise in the field than I did, which provided valuable insight. They were my first mentors who helped me expand my role and job responsibilities. With this support, I decided to attend nursing school on a part-time basis so I could combine my public health education career with hands-on experience as an RN in a public health setting.
Given your role, what unique perspective do you bring to the team that helps with the group’s total outreach efforts?
I have a strong understanding of our community and have built meaningful relationships with key community members and agency representatives for the hospital. With these relationships, I am able to bring more of our programs to the public and also help address the needs of the community. I share this information with our committee members, which helps us plan programs and our efforts.
I enjoy planning programs that not only highlight the medical services of our Heart and Vascular program, but the expertise of our committee and other staff members that help our community stay healthy.
If you were to offer one piece of advice to the community about heart health, what would it be?
Schedule annual exams and periodic appointments with your health care provider. It will provide an opportunity to discuss your medical and emotional needs and concerns while also allowing you to become more involved in your personal health care plan.
Terri McClure, BA, RN, CHFN – Inpatient Cardiovascular Educator
30 Years at Chester County Hospital
What influenced you to choose your career and work in healthcare?
My mom was a nurse and worked at Chester County Hospital in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. The moment I knew I wanted to go to nursing school was when I was with my grandmother when she was admitted to Chester County Hospital. I can’t say exactly what caused the light switch to go on but when I got home that night, I said to my husband, “You know what…” and before I could finish my sentence he said, “You want to go to nursing school.” We worked it out and I went to nursing school.
Given your role, what unique perspective do you bring to the team that helps with the group’s total outreach efforts?
For as long as I can remember I’ve been doing some form of outreach. I enjoy sharing with patients, their families and the community. For the past 30 years, I have always worked in some area that had to do with cardiology – I guess you could say I just love hearts! I have also lived in West Chester for more than 40 years and feel a connection to the community. Health care is a team effort and the more the patient and family can be involved in the care plan, the better.
If you were to offer one piece of advice to the community about heart health, what would it be?
Educate yourself on your personal health and risk factors. Learn how to live a heart healthy lifestyle and be an active part of your own health and health care team.
Adrianne Pohar, Director of Paramedic Services and EMS Liaison
21 Years at Chester County Hospital
What influenced you to choose your career and work in health care?
I’ve always had a passion to help others. When I was in my 20’s, I became a volunteer firefighter and an EMT. I enjoyed the patient care aspect of the health care environment and decided to go to Paramedic school. Four months after completing the program in 1995, I was hired at Chester County Hospital and went on to complete my BS in Health Science.
Given your role, what unique perspective do you bring to the team that helps with the group’s total outreach efforts?
The unique perspective EMS brings to the outreach team is that we begin education and treatment outside of a hospital setting. Our role is to not only provide care for the patient but also to be an advocate for public health and public safety. We have to manage patients in uncontrolled environments and we understand how to organize chaos. There is always an opportunity to educate patients and their family during our short time with them. People aren’t always able to go to a community outreach event due to busy schedules so we try to educate people anytime we can.
If you were to offer one piece of advice to the community about heart health, what would it be? Educate yourself about recognizing early signs and symptoms of heart disease. With a little bit of knowledge, people can help become part of the chain of survival.
Donna Taylor – Cardiovascular Nurse Navigator
24 Years at Chester County Hospital
What influenced you to choose your career and work in health care?
I enjoy helping people live a heart healthy lifestyle; it feels good to help others. As a cardiovascular nurse navigator, I contact all of the post-stent, cardiac surgery and heart attack patients by providing education and services such as nutrition counseling, smoking cessation, and cardiac rehabilitation. I also help educate the community with cardiovascular related questions.
Given your role, what unique perspective do you bring to the team that helps with the group’s total outreach efforts?
I am a resource for patients during the entire cardiovascular continuum. I help patients with their initial diagnosis of chest pain or cardiac symptoms and follow through to help them get the services and education needed after the cardiac event.
If you were to offer one piece of advice to the community about heart health, what would it be?
Exercise is just as important as any medication in preventing heart disease. Get up and move every day!
Ralph G. Smith, BSN, RN, CCCC – Chest Pain Center and Cardiovascular Data Coordinator
12 Years at Chester County Hospital
What influenced you to choose your career and work in health care?
I always say this position was created for me. I started out volunteering as an Emergency Medical Technician while in high school. From there I received my BS in Public Health while attending a paramedic program. I have always enjoyed helping people especially in their time of need. When I was a paramedic, I always wanted to do more for the patient so I continued on to nursing school. I have since worked in telemetry, critical care, the emergency room and the cardiac catheterization lab. In my current role, I don’t focus on just one aspect of patient care, it’s literally soup to nuts. From prevention to acute care to after care and rehabilitation.
Given your role, what unique perspective do you bring to the team that helps with the group’s total outreach efforts?
I have cared for patients in just about every aspect of acute care. Although every part has unique goals and objectives, the most important piece is community education. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and acting on these clues can help prevent you from serious damage or even death from a heart attack.
If you were to offer one piece of advice to the community about heart health, what would it be?
Listen to your body and take action to prevent a serious heart attack. If you end up in the Emergency Department and find out you only have acid reflux, that’s great! If you decide to wait, you can’t get that time back. Most heart damage occurs within the first two hours so don’t delay.
Tim Martin – Business Operations Manager for Invasive Cardiovascular Services
1 Year at Chester County Hospital; 19 Years at Lancaster General Health
What influenced you to choose your career and work in health care?
I have always believed in the importance of helping others. When I was 14, I began volunteering with our local Emergency Medical Services. I quickly realized the satisfaction of positively impacting people during their time of crisis or need. Working in cardiology allows me to rewrite narratives that may not have had a happy ending. With modern technology and sophisticated treatments, teams of health care professionals, like the ones we have here at Chester County Hospital, can stop a heart attack as it is occurring and even prevent them in some instances.
Given your role, what unique perspective do you bring to the team that helps with the group’s total outreach efforts?
Treating cardiovascular disease can only happen through a team approach. This is reflected in the membership of the outreach team as well. I represent the acute care phase of cardiovascular services.
If you were to offer one piece of advice to the community about heart health, what would it be?
Be proactive with your health and focus on prevention.
The Cardiovascular Outreach Team has several must-attend events for the community including: Hands-Only CPR, Heart Tracks Cardiovascular Screening, Early Heart Attack Care and for smokers, our “Stop Smoking Now!” smoking cessation program. To sign-up for these programs, visit www.ChesterCountyHospital.org/Wellness.
Interested in learning about your risk for heart disease? Find out by taking an online cardiac risk assessment, such as Chester County Hospital’s “Heart Tracks.” It allows you to compare your actual age to your heart’s biological age, estimate your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and prioritize your most harmful cardiovascular risk factors. Take The Assessment Now!