A Lifesaving Second Opinion

"It's a miracle I'm alive." This is what Roger Taylor, a cardiac patient at The University of Kansas Health System, says when talking about the time his heart stopped.

Taylor does not remember much about that day in October 2012, only that he was driving home and became lightheaded. A good Samaritan found Taylor slumped over his steering wheel and called 911. When police officers arrived minutes later, Taylor had no pulse. They initiated CPR and shocked his heart. He was rushed to a community hospital near his home.

After 11 days in intensive care, Taylor went home. However, he continued to have concerns about his heart health. That is when he came to The University of Kansas Health System for cardiac care. After several tests, cardiologists determined Taylor's heart attack was due to a genetic heart condition. Within days, heart rhythm specialists inserted an internal cardiac defibrillator/pacemaker into Taylor's chest.

Now a year later, he feels great. He continues to receive support from his cardiac team through the health system's risk reduction program, which includes education, nutritional counseling, exercise recommendations and behavior modification.

Taylor's story is just one example of the quality care provided by the heart team at The University of Kansas Health System.

"Our patients receive leading-edge preventive, diagnostic, treatment and follow-up care," says Matthew Earnest, MD, cardiologist at The University of Kansas Health System. "Patients here experience significantly better rates of survival, far exceeding the national average."