Sands-Constellation Heart Institute - Center for Advanced Heart Failure and Mechanical Circulatory Support

Congestive Heart Failure – An umbrella term that describes many different types and causes of heart disease. Simply put, congestive heart failure is when the heart is unable to provide enough support to supply the body. Heart failure can be caused by prior heart attacks, family history, viral illness, and many other causes. Our heart care team explores all potential reasons for your heart disease and ensures guideline-directed medical therapies and devices are offered to improve both the quality and quantity of your life.

Pulmonary Hypertension - High pressures within the lungs that can make it challenging to breathe. Pulmonary hypertension can often go unrecognized and untreated for many years. It can be difficult to treat and often requires several medications and procedures. Our center specializes in both traditional and rare types of pulmonary hypertension such as chronic thromboembolic disease (chronic blood clots in the lungs) that requires specialized surgery. We are the only center in the region to offer this surgery.

Amyloidosis - Rare condition that causes heart failure, caused by abnormal protein either in the liver or bone marrow. Amyloidosis can be fatal if left untreated. It can often cause neuropathy and other nerve symptoms that can be linked to cancers and blood disorders. We work closely with our hematology/oncology and neurology colleagues to diagnose and treat amyloidosis.

Sarcoid - This disease can affect the heart, lungs, and the electrical system of the heart, causing heart failure. We work closely with our pulmonology colleagues to treat complex cases.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) - The most common inherited type of heart disease. It often causes an enlarged heart or a thickening of the heart muscle. Our comprehensive team evaluates the risk of sudden cardiac death, uses a combination of imaging techniques to fully understand your condition, optimizes medications, and provides both surgical and minimally invasive septal reducing procedures when needed.

Rochester Regional Health heart specialists provide advanced heart treatments that are tailored to each patient’s needs. We combine a variety of diagnostic and monitoring technologies with lifestyle and medical management services.

Diagnostic and Monitoring Technologies

• SensiVest® - a high-tech vest that measures fluid in your lungs from outside your clothing
• CardoMEMs - a sensor that monitors the pressure in your pulmonary artery. You’ll take a reading daily from home using the Patient Electronics System, which sends the information directly to your doctor. After analyzing the data, your doctor may make medication changes to help treat your heart failure.
• Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) - a mechanical device that helps treat advanced heart failure, a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) - used in emergencies, ECMO is an in-hospital mode of life support for patients with acute respiratory or cardiac failure. It replaces the actions of either the lungs, or both the heart and lungs, supplying oxygenated blood to the body.
• Experimental Devices and Medications - our team routinely enrolls in many of the most cutting-edge clinical trials available in the country. These devices and medications often require careful screening and monitoring but can provide potentially lifesaving outcomes before the devices are available on the market.

Lifestyle & Medical Management Support

• Nutrition – our nutritional team helps you create and reach healthy nutritional goals.
• Rehab – we work closely with our cardiac rehabilitation team to get you back to full strength.
• Nurse Support - a specially dedicated team of nurses and advanced practice providers make house calls, attend doctor’s visits, and provide other medical and social support.
• Social Workers - a full-time social worker can help with complex cases, provide resources, and help navigate the complicated health care system.
• Co-morbid Care – we help manage patients’ diabetes, bariatric and other co-morbid conditions.
• Patient education programs- the team at SCHI is here to help you along your heart failure path with educational classes offered at many of our locations.

Genetic Counseling – heart disease often runs in families, and certain characteristics in your family history could point to a genetic heart disorder. Genetic counseling is encouraged before genetic testing so you and your provider can talk about how the results of your tests may affect you and your family.

For visitors coming to Rochester General Hospital or our main heart failure office location in Rochester there are several parking options available. Visitor parking is available in both the Portland Avenue and Carter Street ramp garages. For appointments in the Rochester General Hospital Medical Office Building (1415 Portland), the Carter Street garage is more convenient.

Valet Parking:

Rochester General Hospital offers valet parking services at the hospital’s Main Entrance (Polisseni Pavilion), weekdays from 6 am to 6 pm; and at the Medical Office Building Entrance (1415 Portland Ave.), weekdays from 7 am to 5:30 pm. The cost of this convenient service is $7.00, which includes the parking fee. The Rochester Heart Failure officiate validates parking vouchers to provide a discounted rate to patients.

To pick up your vehicle, return to where you dropped it off or call ahead to the valet before leaving your destination to receive curbside service.  Reach the valet at extension 2-3748 or (585) 922-3748 from off-campus.

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For your convenience there are several hotels only a short distance from hospital. If you need further information about travel accommodations or would like to inquire about using our corporate rate please contact the office. 

Hotels in the area

Hampton Inn & Suites Irondequoit

1323 East Ridge Road, Rochester NY 14621

585-339-3500

Holiday Inn Express

2200 N. Goodman Street, Rochester NY 14609

585-342-0430

Airport

Greater Rochester International Airport