“At Russell Nesbitt Services, Inc. we serve the intellectually and developmentally disabled population, however, there are many times in which the clients are faced with severe medical diagnosis. Recently, one of our clients was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation and RVR (rapid ventricular rate), and the client was admitted to the hospital for three days. When both of these medical conditions are experienced together, the patient may undergo a rapid or fluttering heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or may even lose consciousness.
Less than a month later, this client was admitted to the hospital again with increased cardiac enzymes, congestive heart failure, and Atrial Fibrillation. Doctors were unable to get the client out of Atrial Fibrillation and were forced to conduct a cardio-version, which is an electric shock designed to convert a rapid, fluttering, or ineffective heartbeat back to its normal rhythm.
This client was then referred to a specialist at Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus, Ohio because there were no doctors in the Wheeling, WV area willing to perform a heart surgery on the client due to increased risk. It was discovered that the client has leaking aortic and mitral valves in his heart and also has severe blockage. Since this referral, the client has been to Columbus on six different occasions and can expect return trips in the near and ongoing future.
Without United Way funding, these trips would not be possible due to the financial limitations of the client as well as the inability of Medicaid’s Title XIX Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Waiver to pay for services over thirty miles outside of the state border. These trips are very necessary for the client’s sustained life as the continued leaking of the valves and Atrial Fibrillation could result in cardiac arrest and possible death.”
– Russell Nesbitt Services