Retired musician Virgil Jackson, 64, is a man on a mission. Jackson suffers from congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD), two conditions with symptoms that can require frequent hospitalizations if not managed properly.
Jackson’s goal is to stay out of the hospital by successfully managing those symptoms which can include swelling of the legs, hands and face, difficulty breathing and rapid weight gain due to water retention. He has an ally in this quest: Cedric Cobb, quality care navigator for the CHF/COPD Clinic at St. Mary Medical Center.
The CHF/COPD Clinic is part of St. Mary Medical Center’s campaign to reduce readmissions for patients with those conditions.
“Almost every week I was going to the Emergency Department at St. Mary Medical Center because I was swelling up,” Jackson recalls.
“When ‘Virg’ came in here he was full of fluid everywhere and he was on four liters of oxygen. He could not get off of oxygen,” Cobb says. “Now, education, encouragement and regular monitoring at the clinic have Jackson on the path to success.”
Jackson visits the CHF clinic twice each week so that Cobb can check his weight and vital signs, administer diuretics or breathing treatments if needed, and follow up with his physicians if the check-up reveals any cause for concern.
Cobb also serves as Jackson’s cheering section, encouraging him in his compliance with the recommended diet and exercise, and celebrating his successes.
St. Mary Medical Center’s CHF/COPD Clinic is located at the hospital, 1500 S. Lake Park Blvd., on 5 West. For information on referrals or to make an appointment, call 219-947-6823.
Visit comhs.org/heart for more information on heart care services at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System.
