When you think of the electricity you use every day, things like your phone, laptop, kitchen appliances and car may first come to mind. But each one of us also has a personal electrical system inside our own bodies. Natural electrical impulses continuously coordinate heart contractions and keep our blood flowing.
Sometimes, though, these electrical signals don’t work properly and can cause the heart to beat too slow, too fast or unevenly. That’s where Dr. Sharma comes in.
A heart “electrician”
Providence is committed to providing advanced diagnostics, treatments and rehabilitation for even the most complex heart diseases and conditions. Last October, cardiac electrophysiologist (EP) Sandeep Sharma, M.D., joined the cardiology practice at Providence Medical Group and brought much-needed EP cardiology expertise for people who need care for rhythm-related heart disorders.
An electrophysiologist is a cardiovascular disease specialist with subspecialty training in diagnosing, treating and managing problems involving irregular heart rhythms, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, typically using implantable pacemakers, cardioverter-defibrillators and other interventions, such as ablation.
Dr. Sharma is the program director of EP cardiology and practices at Providence Medical Group – North Everett Cardiology. He says that some of his patients arrive with disabling symptoms and a decreased quality of life, and he’s thankful to be able to offer leading-edge medical care in the clinic and hospital — as well as remote monitoring from a patient’s own home when needed.
“We’re very fortunate to have access to advanced technology and therapies for heart rhythm disorders — from the latest pacemaker and defibrillator devices, to 3D anatomic mapping, to ablation technology and more,” Dr. Sharma says. “We’ve made impressive innovations in EP techniques and technology in the past few years, and I’m pleased to be able to offer world-class care in Everett.”
In addition to more conventional EP treatments, Dr. Sharma can provide the WATCHMAN procedure for some patients with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem (also known as non-valvular AFib), and who need an alternative to blood thinners. This FDA-approved, minimally invasive treatment has been proven to reduce stroke risk in people with this condition.
The device clinic: Remote monitoring and streamlined care
Currently, more than 500 Providence patients in Everett and surrounding areas are living with implanted devices to control arrhythmias and other heart disorders. With this group of patients in mind, Dr. Sharma and his team have established a “device clinic” that combines in-clinic visits and, in between regular appointments, virtual heart monitoring to conduct routine checks — on both the heart and the device — remotely, using digital technology to send information and messages both ways.
“Remote heart monitoring has been an effective part of heart treatment plans for more than 20 years,” Dr. Sharma says. “During the pandemic, the remote systems we already had in place became invaluable.” In addition to remote monitoring, the device clinic model of care offers streamlined scheduling. “Our goal is to ‘roll out the red carpet’ and provide the most convenient, effective care for our patients,” Dr. Sharma says.
* * * * * *
Call 844-587-0089 to learn more about Providence EP Cardiology or visit our clinic website.
