Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer visited UNMC and Nebraska Medicine last week, touring the cardiac catheterization laboratory at the invitation of Andrew Goldsweig, MD, an associate professor of interventional cardiology and the associate lab director for structural heart disease.
“It’s very impressive,” Sen. Fischer said. “Nebraska is so fortunate to have a gem like this right here in the state.”
During the visit, Sen. Fischer also met with cardiology chair Daniel Anderson, MD, PhD, and other physicians, nurses and staff in the lab. Nurse coordinator Lisa Drew, technologist Katie Connell and cardiology fellow Jaclyn Rivington, MD, joined Drs. Goldsweig and Anderson to showcase the lab’s cutting-edge technology for Sen. Fischer.
Dr. Goldsweig and his team emphasized the state-of-the-art clinical care delivered at the lab and the top-quality training and research that the lab’s technology enables the medical center to provide.
“We’re able to push the field forward, to lead the nation and the world, and to provide the latest and the greatest to the people of Nebraska because of the support we’ve received,” Dr. Goldsweig said.
Dr. Goldsweig, who also serves as the president of the Nebraska Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, also spoke with Sen. Fischer about issues that may come before Congress in the near future, such as the importance of telehealth coverage and prior authorization reform.
The senator questioned the team on how the lab uses telehealth to work with primary care physicians across the state to streamline pre-operative screenings and post-operative care, lessening the need for many trips to the med center or long stays.
“Telehealth is important all across the state, whether it’s in what are considered rural areas or even here in the city of Omaha,” Sen. Fischer said.
“You have people where it’s difficult for them to leave their homes. So even for a patient here in Omaha, to be able to do something via telehealth is very important.”
Sen. Fischer thanked the staff and students of the med center and said she appreciated their efforts for the people of Nebraska.
“I’m very proud to represent Nebraska Medicine and UNMC,” she said. “We have wonderful people who are here working and developing new techniques, and it’s exciting to see everything that’s going on.”
Dr. Goldsweig said he was proud to host the senator and “showcase the incredible facility we have, that is not only great for UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, but is great for the people of Nebraska.”