Valley Health System has officially announced the opening of The Knispel Center for Comprehensive Cardiomyopathy Care, a new specialized resource dedicated to addressing the complex needs of patients living with cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.
The new center, made possible by the generous support of Barry and Isabel Knispel, consolidates the expertise of a diverse team of cardiac specialists to provide a unified, multidisciplinary care approach. This collaborative model is designed to diagnose and manage the full spectrum of these serious cardiac conditions, with an ultimate goal of heart recovery and restoring functional quality of life.
Integrated, subspecialized care
Cardiomyopathy, a disease that makes it harder for the heart muscle to pump blood, and heart failure, where the heart cannot pump enough oxygen to meet the body’s needs, are closely linked. The Valley Heart and Vascular Institute established The Knispel Center to recognize both the distinctions and the overlap between the two.
The center’s team combines specialists in crucial fields, including pulmonary hypertension, cardiac critical care, advanced heart failure, cardiac surgery, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Dr. Suneet Mittal, chair of the Cardiovascular Service Line for Valley Health System, emphasized the importance of this integrated expertise. “At The Knispel Center… our multidisciplinary team of subspecialists works together to treat cardiomyopathies and heart failure,” Mittal said. “The experience of our team allows us to diagnose and manage the full spectrum of these cardiac conditions to restore functional quality of life.”
Advanced treatment options
Patients referred to the new center gain access to a wide array of advanced and personalized treatment options. The center offers state-of-the-art medical management alongside innovative device-based therapies.
Advanced treatments available at the center include:
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation: A device implant designed to assist the heart in pumping blood.
- Carotid Baroreceptor Stimulation: A technique involving electrical stimulation of pressure points in the carotid arteries to help reduce heart failure symptoms.
- Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD): A mechanical pump surgically implanted in patients with severely weakened hearts to improve quality of life and meet the body’s oxygen demands.
Valley’s heart recovery team is committed to developing a customized treatment plan tailored to the specific needs of each patient. Individuals diagnosed with cardiomyopathy or heart failure are encouraged to discuss a referral to The Knispel Center with their cardiologist.
