Here at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Dr. Timothy Egan treats patients with all types of heart problems. Although he grew up in the Pioneer Valley and lived in various parts of the country over the years, he says he was “very happy to be back in his hometown.” He said he and his wife love the area and are raising their children there. Their four children are here.

Dr. Egan, a non-invasive cardiologist, has worked at Baystate Health for over 11 years. He works at both Bay State Medical Center in Franklin and Springfield.

“I’ve been interested in a career in medicine for a long time,” he says. “Early in life, I was influenced by my uncle who is a physician, and I saw the difference he could make in the lives of other people.” I did not choose cardiology. He successfully entered medical school.

“But once I did my first rotation in cardiology, I was hooked,” he says.

Dr. Egan finds this field to be exciting and constantly evolving. He has seen many advances in the care he and Baystate Health are able to provide in the past 10 years alone.

“I enjoy staying abreast of changes occurring in the field and introducing new treatments that benefit patients,” he says. “Additionally, given how common heart disease is, my role has allowed me to provide care for a huge number of patients.”

Dr. Egan describes his more than 10 years at Baystate Franklin as extremely rewarding.

“I have enjoyed providing care to patients (and sometimes their families) in Greenfield and the surrounding area,” he says. “As a community health care provider, Bay State He is often able to see a broader range of patients and conditions before they require consultation with a ‘subspecialist’ at the Medical Center. In these cases, I find it rewarding to continue to provide high-quality community follow-up care and help patients navigate an often complex healthcare system. ”

Dr. Egan says the most rewarding part of her job is the connections she makes with patients and their families.

“I equally enjoy collaborating with other members of the care team, who are invaluable in their roles supporting patients,” he says. “I salute their dedication to their communities and their dedication to helping patients every day.”

At the end of the day, Dr. Egan says the best way to build relationships with your patients is to take the time to care for them. This allows him to understand each patient individually and allows them to have confidence in his heart care team at Bay State Franklin.

“When I first started at BFMC, there were no Bay State cardiologists in Greenfield,” he says. “I was part of the first group to establish Baystate Heart & Vascular in Franklin. I’ve grown over the past 10 years from a small practice to providing outpatient care as well as inpatient care at BFMC, imaging We are proud to have grown into a larger group with a broader scope to include diagnostics, and some procedures. Our colleagues in vascular surgery have also contributed their expertise. This has enabled us to Patients can now get the care they need close to home.”

To contact Baystate Cardiology (Greenfield), call 413-794-2273.

Baystate Health offers many heart and vascular services.

The Bay State Regional Heart and Stroke Program is nationally known for providing life-saving care. During a heart attack, every minute counts. Baystate Health unclogs arteries up to 25 minutes faster than the national standard. In fact, Baystate Hospital ranks in the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation when it comes to this life-saving treatment called angioplasty.

– Baystate Medical Center is the only hospital in the area that can immediately stop heart attacks by unclogging arteries. This procedure is performed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Baystate’s cardiac surgery program has earned an outstanding three-star ranking from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for patient care and outcomes in aortic valve replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting, mitral valve replacement and repair surgery.

– Baystate Medical Center experts perform more than 80% of all heart surgeries in Western Massachusetts. When it comes to cardiac surgery, Baystate is one of the top three medical centers in Massachusetts with the highest patient volume.

– Baystate Children’s Hospital is specially designed to care for young hearts. We have board-certified pediatric cardiologists and specialists, and resources for families, all in a child-friendly environment.

– Latest Clinical Trials: At Baystate Health, we understand that providing the best care for you and your family means staying up to date on the latest medicines and technology. Its team keeps Baystate Health on the cutting edge of research. Bay State team members participate in heart disease clinical trials that lead to better care and healthier outcomes.

How to prevent heart disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half (47%) of Americans have at least one of the three important risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. There are several risk factors for heart disease that you cannot control, such as age and family history. But preventing heart disease means lowering your risk by changing factors you can control.

The term “heart disease” refers to a variety of conditions that affect heart health, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, and heart attacks. In addition to lifestyle, age, and family history, certain health conditions can increase your risk of heart disease. These conditions are called risk factors. To prevent heart disease, doctors recommend focusing on preventable risks early in life.

While cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, it is also 80% preventable. You can prevent heart disease by:

– Choose healthy foods to prevent heart disease

– Maintain a healthy weight

– Do regular exercise

– no smoking

Anita Fritz is a lifelong resident of Franklin County. She was a reporter for the Greenfield Recorder for 20 years. She currently serves as a senior public relations and community relations specialist at Bay State Franklin Medical Center.