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News & Press Releases
Dec 172009
Maricopa County Medical Society announced the 2010 slate of officers this month. Dr. Nathan Laufer was named President-Elect. Dr. Laufer has been a member of the medical society since 1985. The Maricopa Medical Society continues to promote excellence in the quality of care and to represent its members by acting as a strong, collective physician voice.
Dec 022009
Campaign for Patient Access
Cardiovascular Patients. Cardiovascular Practices. At Risk.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2010 Physician Fee Schedule Rule issued in late October will have a devastating impact on cardiovascular practices.
For millions of heart patients in America the results could be severe — less access, higher fees, longer waits, impersonal care. This is why heart patients and cardiovascular professionals are coming together NOW to fight the CMS cuts. Learn more »
Watch a video about the impact of CMS cuts »
Contact Your Representative
Let your members of Congress know that you support quality cardio... continued
Nov 242009
Cardiology is fighting for our very survival – and for our patients. CMS issued the final 2010 Physician Fee Schedule rule in late October, and the consequences are severe. This is bad public policy - and it cannot stand. We need every cardiovascular professional in the U.S. to get involved TODAY.
Thanks to this rule, outpatient cardiology is on the critical list, and that means patients won’t get the cardiovascular care they need to survive. The odds against completely stopping the cuts are high, but your College needs you in the effort to fight the cuts.
Get Involved in the Fight for Survival. Oppose the Rule.
Contact your elected officials: http://capwiz.com/acc/dbq/officials/?affiliate_lookup=1
Nov 162009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Barbara Fahl-Watkins
Phone: (602) 307-0070
Email: bfahl@heartcenteraz.com
PHOENIX, Ariz. – November 17, 2009 -- The Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona today announced the availability of Corus™ CAD, the first and only gene expression test to quantify the likelihood of obstructive[i] coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable chest pain. Corus CAD is a new genomic test launched in select U.S. markets, and the Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona is among the first institutions in the country to offer this first-of-its-kind gene expression test to patients with possible cardiovascular disease.
"This is a very exciting breakth... continued
Nov 132009
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Barbara Watkins
Phone: 602-322-5057
Nathan Laufer, MD To Be Profiled in a Marquis Who’s Who® Publication
Phoenix, Arizona – November 17, 2009 – Nathan Laufer, MD, of Phoenix, Arizona has been selected to be included in a biographical directory published by Marquis Who’s Who®, the leading biographical reference publisher of the highest achievers and contributors from across the country and around the world. Dr. Laufer will be profile... continued
Nov 032009
Heart & Vascular Center Physicians Embrace E-Prescribing
Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona is proud to be using the latest technology in communicating patient presciptions to over 200 pharmacies in Arizona! E-Prescribing is safer, more convenient for our patients and more efficient for the pharmacy. Within seconds the pharmacist receives an electronic transmission of your prescription and it is ready for processing. No phone calls, no faxing and no paper!
The first step in refilling a medication is the patient alerting the pharmacy of the need for a refill. The pharmacy sends our office an electronic request for the refill. Our office can respond faster and more efficiently.... continued
Oct 082009
Percutaneous Endovascular Abdominal Aneurysm Repair
Course Director: Ashish Pershad, MD
October 22-23, 2009
Oct 012009
Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona Launches New Web Site
The Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona launched a new patient web site to better service patients. The new site has a new look and will be the link to a new patient portal that will be launched in the next month. The new patient portal will make it easier for patients to access key information on their overall health. Watch the site for new information on when the patient portal will be accessible.
For more information contact the Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona at (602) 307-0070.
Sep 282009
Abiomed will be honoring a site within the PROTECT II Clinical Trial community each month that has displayed outstanding excellence and enthusiasm. This month we would like to highlight Banner Good Sam in Phoenix, Arizona. They were late to enter the trial but they successfully recruited six patients within five months of their activation date. They have displayed great enthusiasm in helping PROTECT II become a successful trial. “I think the Impella device is a true game changer in the field of interventional cardiology. The ease of use is truly a huge advantage for these high risk PCI procedures. I am anxiously awaiting the completion of PROTECT 2 so that we can identify “the patient” who would benefit most fr... continued
Sep 212009
Dr. Suzanne Sorof discusses women and heart disease on empowerHer women's health online.
http://www.empowher.com/media/video/video-dr-sorof-%E2%80%93-what-inspires-you-treat-women-and-their-hearts
http://www.empowher.com/media/video/video-heart-disease-prevention-tips-dr-sorof
http://www.empowher.com/media/video/video-dr-sorof-%E2%80%93-what-does-interventional-cardiologist-do
Sep 202009
Congress is closer than ever to passing a health system reform bill, and we can't lose this opportunity for real health reform. However, members of the AMA's Patients' Action Network and doctors from around the country--in states like Florida, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas and Missouri--are all concerned about how this legislation will affect your access to your doctor.
In the U.S. Senate, the health reform bill that's been proposed would use Medicare as a foundation--and that foundation is crumbling because of an archaic payment system already in place. This system is scheduled to cut Medicare physician payments by more than 20 percent Jan. 1, 2010, with repeated annual cuts coming after that.
These annual cuts are a huge pro... continued
Sep 192009
CPR Class for Kids
from:Phoenix Fire Department category:Health and Fitness posted:September 19th, 2009
American Heart Association, Arizona Cardinals Preparatory Academy, and Phoenix Fire Team Up to Share the Gift of CPR with Students!
First-of-its-kind program for Maricopa County students to kickoff on September 22, 2009
Phoenix, AZ--- The American Heart Association has teamed up with Cardinals Charities, the Arizona Cardinals Preparatory Academy and the City of Phoenix Fire Department, to kickoff a special CPR instructional program for 7th and 8th grade students. Through the use of the CPR Anytime kit, students will each be given their own mini blow-up mannequin and ins... continued
Aug 112009
Launch of New Patient Portal Coming Soon
In the next month, the Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona will be launching a new patient portal which will be accessible from their new web site. Patients will click on the "Patient Portal" button on the right hand side of their screen to login to the portal. A user name and password will be used to access their own patient information, get forms, schedule appointments and many other items to make it more convenient for patients to get information at any time of day.
New patients will be able to register ahead of their new appointment time, filling out all of the necessary paperwork normally handled in the office.
For m... continued
Aug 012009
Dr. Suzanne Sorof provides tips for managing stress in the workplace on Better Homes and Gardens Heart-Healthy Living website. To read her column, click the link below.
http://www.hearthealthyonline.com/heart-disease-overview/stress-management/work-stress_ss1.html#
Jun 062009
One-Year Outcomes for Recanalization of Long Superficial Femoral Artery Chronic Total Occlusions with the Viabahn Stent Graft
VOLUME: 21 PUBLICATION DATE: Jun 01 2009
Sidebars_in_article:
Issue Number:
6 (June 2009)
Start Page:
278
End Page:
281
author(s):
*Nahel Farraj, DO, §A. Srivastava, MD, *,§,£Ashish Pershad, MD
ABSTRACT: Objective. The treatment of long superficial femoral artery (SFA) chronic total occlusions (CTOs) remains controversial. There are several percutaneous treatment options available for the recanalization of these lesions. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (P... continued
May 012009
American Heart Association's - Go Red For Women Luncheon
More than 600 women from across the Valley took part in the Go Red For Women Luncheon on Friday, May 1 at 11:45 a.m. The 5th annual luncheon, was held at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, will raise awareness around heart disease, the No.1 killer of women. The American Heart Associations Go Red For Women campaign encourages women to take charge of their heart health and make it a top priority to live a stronger and healthier life.
This years luncheon featured Dr. Suzanne Sorof, interventional cardiologist from the Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona who shared the warning signs of heart disease and heart disease prevention tips. In addition, Elaine Lun... continued
Mar 152009
American Heart Association Announces New Board Members; Selection Reflects Local Professional Diversity
PHOENIX, March 2009 - The appointment of two new members to the American Heart Association’s Board of Directors was announced by Valerie Jones, executive director of the American Heart Association in Phoenix.
Suzanne A. Sorof, M.D. will serve as President of the 2009 board of directors. Dr. Sorof is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology, and practices at Heart and Vascular Center of Arizona. Her Interests include Coronary Artery disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Consultative Cardiology, and Women’s Preventive and Cardiology. Original... continued
Feb 272009
Date: February 27, 2009
Contact: Barbara Watkins
602-322-5057
bfahl@heartcenteraz.com
Physicians at the Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona have been selected along with a handful of interventional cardiac specialists from around the country to participate in a prestigious trial called PROTECT 2. Dr. Ashish Pershad, Interventional Cardiologist, performed the first procedure in Maricopa County on a 79 year old patient that was felt to be too high risk for coronary bypass surgery... continued
Feb 172009
Go Red For Women Campaign Encourages Healthy Hearts
Reported by: Eva Bowen
Email: ebowen@abc15.com
Last Update: 2/17 8:17 am
Women across Arizona will Go Red For Women throughout February to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, women's number one health threat.
The American Heart Association's campaign invites women to take charge of their heart health, and make it a top priority for a stronger, longer life.
Red is the American Heart Associati... continued
Jan 302009
Dr. Suzanne Sorof answers reader's question regarding Diabetes and Heart Disease in the azcentral. com Southwest Valley Column.
Southwest Valley
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Digg this
Diabetes increases woman's heart-attack risk
Jan. 30, 2009 02:44 PM
Special for The Republic
Dr. Suzanne Sorof is an interventional cardiologist at Banner Estrella and Banner Good Samaritan medical centers,... continued
Apr 012008
Author: Adam Klawonn
Issue: April, 2008, Page 201
Photo by Brandon Sullivan
Specialty: Cardiology
Medical School: McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Years Practicing: 24
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
What brought you to Phoenix?
“I recognized an opportunity, and I liked to teach and do research, and I didn’t want to have to worry about tenure and the university politics. I came here and was able to do everything in the realm of private practice. I was the coronary care unit director at Good Sam from 1986 until 1991. Now I am the director of Banner Health’s interventional cardiology fellowship program, which teaches young doctors h... continued
Nov 262007
Originally Broadcast on KPHO News 5
Coughing May Hold Off Heart Attacks
POSTED: 12:04 pm MST November 26, 2007
UPDATED: 12:06 pm MST November 26, 2007
PHOENIX -- Drugs, diet and exercise are the most common ways to prevent a heart attack in the long run, but what about a quick fix when the symptoms hit hard and fast?
CBS 5 News learned of a potentially life-saving technique that may help hold off a heart attack if you feel one coming on.
An e-mail says you may be able to cough your way out of a blackout, but is that really true?
"Coughing can help and can keep you awake enough that you can call 911," said Dr. Nathan Laufer.
L... continued
Mar 072007
Reprinted from The Arizona Republic
Quality of life is issue, local expert says
Improving one's diet and exercise vs. having a stent implanted may be equal in terms of preventing a heart attack, but the two appraches may vary greatly in their effects on your quality of life, according to a Valley cardiology expert.
"You have to ask, why are we doing these procedures?" asked Dr. Nathan Laufer, director of interventional cardiology at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, where about 3,500 stent interventions are performed every year.
The number of angioplasties performed in Arizona has risen over the past several years. In 2000, there were 11,854 of the procedures; in 2005, ... continued
Oct 012006
Intermediate Term (2 YEAR) Outcomes Following Unprotected Left Main Trunk Percutaneous Intervention With Drug Eluting Stents.
Type: Poster
Starts On: TBD
Presenter/Author:
Ashish Pershad, MD, Rajendran Sabapathy, MD, Adam Brodsky, Renee Espinosa, MD, Nathan Laufer, MD, Heart and Vascular Center of AZ, Phoenix, AZ
Abstract Number: 366
Background: Bypass surgery remains the revascularization strategy of choice for left main trunk coronary artery disease in an unselected group of patients. Drug eluting stents have been proposed as a viable alternative to bypass surgery for left main trunk lesions but their intermediate and long term outcomes are still under scrut... continued
Feb 162006
American Heart Association Announces New President
PHOENIX, Feb 12 - The American Heart Association announces the appointment of Dr. Nathan Laufer as President of the 2006 board of directors. Dr. Laufer is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology, and has been in practice since 1984. He received his undergraduate degree and M.D. from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Toronto and a cardiology fellowship at the University of Michigan, whose faculty he then joined. Dr. Laufer is a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona, a member of the teaching faculty at Good Samaritan Regional... continued
Jun 152005
DATE: June 15, 2005
TO: Phoenix Business Journal
CONTACT: Barbara Watkins
602-322-5057
bfahl@heartcenteraz.com
Topic: Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona Nuclear Cardiology Laboratory obtains national accreditation
Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona located in Phoenix, Arizona, was granted accreditation by ICANL-Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories. ICANL provides a peer review mechanism to encourage and recognize the provision of quality nuclear cardiology and nuclear medicine diagnostic evaluations. A non-profit organization, the ICANL is dedicated to ensuring high quality patient care and to promoting ... continued
Feb 052005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Barbara Fahl-Watkins
Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona
Phone: 602-307-0070
Local Cardiologist Performs First Non-Surgical Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Phoenix, AZ (February 2005) - The Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona is pleased to announce that a minimally invasive technique for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms has been taken to the next level. Grafts for treating aneurysms are now being placed in the aorta without need for not only open surgery but without the need for “surgical cut-down” or surgical exposure of the femoral arteries. This procedure will allow thousands of patients to benefit from a minimally invasive procedure that may revolutionize trea... continued
Dec 012004
There are approximately 2 million cases of acute coronary syndromes per year, with medical costs of $100 billion. Aggressive medical therapy with 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutyaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, beta-blockers, aspirin, platelet inhibitors, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are part of the treatment for this ever-growing problem of coronary atherosclerosis. As technology continues to evolve, there will be new techniques to assist the interventional cardiologist in identifying a plaque and determining its primary composition.
Dec 012004
Aortic valvular disease is a common disorder often affecting elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. A percutaneous approach to aortic valve replacement would allow treatment of high-risk patients without exposing them to the risks associated with surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass. Percutaneous aortic valve replacement presents several challenges due to the valve’s proximity to the coronary ostia and mitral valve.
Oct 012004
INDUSTRY WRAPUPS - From the October 1, 2004 print edition of Health
Heart center gets FDA nod for stroke prevention
Angela Gonzales
The Business Journal
The Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona received approval to use a new technique for treating life-threatening blockages of the carotid arteries, the major blood vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the procedure, which will allow thousands of patients to benefit from a minimally invasive procedure that could revolutionize the treatment for stroke prevention.
Blockages in the carotid artery are one of the leading causes of stroke. continued
Aug 312004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Barbara Fahl-Watkins
Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona
1331 N. 7th Street, Ste. 375
Phoenix, AZ 85006
Phone: 602-307-0070
Email: bfahl@heartcenteraz.com
Web site: http://www.heartcenteraz.com
Local Cardiologist Lauds FDA Approved Procedure
Phoenix, AZ (August 31, 2004) - The Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona is pleased to announce the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a new technique for treating life-threatening blockages of the carotid arteries, which are the major blood vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain. Blockages in the carotid artery are one of the leading causes of... continued
Sep 262003
INDUSTRY WRAPUPS - From the September 26, 2003 print edition - Health Section
Local doctor investigates drug-coated coronary stent
Angela Gonzales
The Business Journal
Dr. Nathan Laufer, medical director of Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona, was the local principal investigator on Boston Scientific Corp.'s study released this week of its drug-coated coronary stent that is showing promising results.
Many times, after a stent is inserted to hold open arteries, plaque will begin to build up, causing the arteries to renarrow. For the study, the drug Paclitaxol was used to coat the stent to inhibit renarrowing of the arteries.
Boston Scientific released trial res... continued
May 032003
Heart device getting good local reviews
By Emma Johnson, Tribune
This article is reprinted with permission. Copyright 2002, East Valley & Scottsdale Tribune, a Freedom Communications, Inc. company. All rights reserved. For more information, please visit http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/.
May 5, 2003
A just-approved device expected to reduce the number of repeat procedures on hundreds of thousands of heart patients and even the need for bypass surgery in some, went through clinical trials in two Valley hospitals, including Scottsdale Healthcare Shea.
Johnson and Johnson's Cypher is the first drug-coated coronary stent available in the United States. The device dramat... continued
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