For Physicians
POWERFUL TEAMWORK
There is a collaborative environment in the Thoracic Aortic Center, resulting in a focused approach to a patient’s problem. While our sophisticated technologies may drive the treatment, it is the entire team of specialists working together with the patient, family and referring physician who implement the plan.
The composition of the team builds and grows depending on each patient’s needs. We begin with a thorough evaluation, which details the patient’s history of prior cardiovascular disease and hypertension as well as the history of the aneurysm itself. Patients bring any previous studies with them and, when necessary, we order additional tests. Once we have excellent definition of the relevant anatomy, our cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular/endovascular surgeons collaborate in a discussion of the findings. By carefully studying the results of imaging studies and considering the patient’s past medical history, the team weighs the risks and benefits of various treatments and recommends a course of optimal management to the patient, family, and referring physician. Depending on the patient’s needs, the team can add a whole host of support services, including interpreters, social workers and other medical specialists. All this happens quickly, with the patient typically having a treatment plan at the end of the first visit.
This multidisciplinary approach enhances the quality of care by fostering close communication with everyone involved in the patient’s treatment. Visits are coordinated such that team members can consult with one another at any time and to arrange for the patient to see the appropriate physicians on the same day. Team conferences and electronic medical records facilitate collaboration among specialists, resulting in well-integrated, consistent treatment approaches that promise the best outcomes possible.
The attending physician is the leader of the team. Patients and their families are encouraged to be partners with us on the treatment team and to be involved in every decision along the way. In order for patients to make informed decisions, education is a cornerstone of our care. We teach patients about their aneurysm, its cause, decision-making in terms of surgery, and the intensive follow-up that we provide. Patients learn the importance of blood pressure and how to monitor their own, as well as to be aware of appropriate physical restrictions in terms of high-risk activities and to recognize symptoms that require attention in an Emergency Department. In addition to one-on-one teaching by physicians and nurses, patients and their families have access to the vast resources of the hospital’s Patient and Family Learning Center.
Thoracic Aortic Center Contact
Information
 617-724-4747
Massachusetts General Hospital Thoracic Aortic Center
55 Fruit Street, YAW-5800
Boston, MA 02114
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