Patients with a common heart condition no longer have to travel out of town to access a procedure that can improve their quality of life.
In July, Dr. Bernard Lim, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Decatur-based Memorial Specialty Care, completed the first atrial fibrillation ablation procedure ever performed at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Previously, patients had to travel to Springfield or another community for this procedure and any follow-up care.
“Atrial fibrillation is a very common condition nationwide and in the Decatur area,” said Kimberly Paskiewicz, system administrator for specialty services at Memorial Health. “In the past, hundreds of patients each year were referred to out-of-town hospitals for the procedures they needed to treat it. Now, patients can have the peace of mind of staying close to home.”
Paskiewicz added that offering atrial fibrillation ablation at DMH also cuts down on the average amount of time patients have to wait for the procedure by nearly 30 days.
The first patient to undergo the procedure at DMH was longtime Decatur internal medicine physician Dr. Stephen Goetter, who said that following a smooth recovery he is now experiencing less fatigue. “I do more walking now,” he said. “I can do whatever I want to do.”
“It’s a good procedure that can be handled very well in Decatur without going to a larger community,” he added.
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat and can increase the risk for stroke, heart failure and other serious complications. It affects 2.7 to 6.1 million people in the U.S. each year, causing about 450,000 hospitalizations.
Since the first procedure at DMH, Dr. Lim has performed more than 20 additional atrial fibrillation ablations. This minimally invasive procedure uses a thin, flexible catheter inserted into a blood vessel to treat an irregular heartbeat. It is often used in patients who do not respond to medication for AFib.
“Atrial fibrillation ablation can greatly improve quality of life for some people with AFib, including reducing chest discomfort, shortness of breath and fatigue,” said Dr. Lim, who earned a medical degree from the University of Dundee and a doctorate degree in cardiovascular biology and molecular medicine from the University of Leeds, both in the United Kingdom. He did his cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology fellowship and training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Prior to joining Memorial Specialty Care, he was an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
“Because this is a minimally invasive procedure, recovery time is usually short and a long hospital stay isn’t necessary,” he added. Following the surgery, Dr. Lim said, many patients say they no longer feel heart palpitations or the sensation of being constantly on edge. They have more energy to exercise and do other activities that were limited before.
Dr. Lim is one of three cardiologists who have joined Memorial Specialty Care Cardiology in 2024. The team is based at DMH, and the hospital made several equipment and facility upgrades to the catheterization lab to prepare for AFib ablation patients.
“This is a great example of how physician expertise and hospital resources come together to provide high-quality care for our community,” Paskiewicz said. “We’re very excited about the growth of Memorial Specialty Care Cardiology and plan to continue expanding the services we offer here in Decatur.”