An insertable cardiac monitor, or ICM, is a small implantable device that continuously monitors heart rhythms and provides accurate patient monitoring. With an ICM, your physician is able to monitor your heartbeat 24 hours/day, 7 days/week without disrupting your lifestyle.  The device is implanted just beneath the skin in the upper chest area during a simple procedure.

Dr. Maninder Bedi, Dr. Christopher Kolibash and Dr. Glen Miske, Electrophysiologists with Heritage Valley’s Heart & Vascular Center, are now using the Abbott Assert-IQ™ ICM. This ICM’s intelligent technology can identify even the most hard-to-detect irregularities, known as arrhythmias, to help your physician determine the next best step for you. 

The Assert- IQ™ ICM offers advanced diagnostic capabilities to provide physicians with more information about the cardiovascular health of each patient, allowing them to make quicker clinical decisions. For instance, Assert-IQ™ features unique algorithms to monitor Premature Ventricular Contractions, or PVCs. Although PVCs are common and generally not a cause for concern, they can lead to worsening heart failure and life-threatening heart rhythms in some patients with a history of heart disease or Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Assert IQ™ also has postural sensors to detect changes in body position during arrhythmia detection, which can provide valuable insight for patients with a history of dizziness and fainting. This includes patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS, which can cause rapid heart rates during changes in body position, such as transitioning from sitting to standing. 

Using Bluetooth® technology, Abbott’s Assert- IQ™ ICM is designed to remain connected to a transmitter, usually the patient’s own cell phone, where it checks heart rhythms every 20 seconds and transmits results in real-time to your physician. The Assert- IQ™ ICM can be remotely programmed, allowing a clinician to adjust the settings of the connected device, optimize performance and limit unnecessary alerts or transmissions, all without requiring a trip to the doctor’s office. 

For more information about the Heritage Valley Heart & Vascular Center, please click here.

Shane, PT, DPT

Heritage Valley Rehab – Beaver

Being a Physical Therapist runs in the family for Shane. His father is also a Physical Therapist, and Shane grew up watching him help people return to their daily activities. Shane truly enjoys helping patients get back to doing the things that they love. He has a particular passion for working with local athletes and helping them recover from injuries and return to the playing field. Shane makes a positive impact on his patients, and is proud of the work that the Heritage Valley Rehabilitation staff does. We are proud to have Shane as a member of the Heritage Valley team!

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated during the first week of August, so this is a good time to talk about Heritage Valley’s free online Breastfeeding Classes for Moms-to-be. The classes, held six times a year, are led by a board-certified lactation consultant and provide participants with the opportunity to learn about breastfeeding and to ask questions. Heritage Valley also offers an online breastfeeding support group, the Breastfeeding Moms Network, which meets on the first Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for September 5 at 10 am. 

Heritage Valley has lactation counselors and Registered Nurses with special training to support breastfeeding families. We also offer one-on-one consultations with International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Liz Leon. Liz is available by appointment at Heritage Valley Beaver’s Maternal Child Health Unit and in the Heritage Valley Pediatrics Chippewa office. To schedule an appointment with Liz, please call 724-773-6842.

To register online for the Breastfeeding for Moms-to-be Class or the Breastfeeding Moms Network, and to learn about Heritage Valley Maternity/Child Health services, please click here.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of routine vaccinations for people of all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, on-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.

For more information on immunization for children, teens and young adults, please click here to visit the Heritage Valley Pediatrics webpage. To make an appointment with one of the physicians at Heritage Valley Pediatrics, please call one of our five locations: Aliquippa/Hopewell (724-375-6161); Beaver (724-774-4070); Calcutta, OH (330-385-1412); Chippewa/Beaver Falls (724-773-6842); or Edgeworth/Sewickley (412-741-2622). You may also schedule through our app (iHVHS or aHVHS).

Adults may need various vaccines based on health conditions, jobs, lifestyle or travel. We encourage you to discuss all vaccines with your Primary Care Physician. If you are looking for a PCP, please visit our website or call the Heritage Valley Physician Referral Line at 1-844-769-DOCS (3627).