Ray Territ, 75 years old, was playing golf, when his feet began to feel heavy. Territ went to Kaiser Permanente for an appointment after his legs began to hurt. Lisa Tran, M.D.Southern California.
Territ’s medical history was reviewed in Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect by Dr. Tran. This is one of the largest private electronic health records in the world. She quickly realized that Territ hadn’t been tested for an abdominal aortic rupture. Territ was advised by Dr. Tran to have his screening done. He agreed.
He saved his life by taking this decision.
Territ had an abdominal aneurysm twice as large than those that would normally need surgery. The results were immediately sent to Kaiser Permanente’s heart surgeon. Majid Tayyarah, M.D.Territ was also presented by Dr. Tayyarah that day. He explained to Territ the urgency of surgery and the potentially fatal consequences of aneurysm rupture.
“Dr. Tayyarah said, ‘I’ll take care of you,'”Territ. “When he said that, I felt good. And we went into the operation room, had the operation, no problems.”
Territ is 100% recovered and is back on the greens. “Dr. Tran and Dr. Tayyarah — they’re my heroes.”
What is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and How Can It Be Treated?
A balloon-like bulge, known as an abdominal aortic eneurysm, can form in the aorta and can rupture quickly. This can lead to serious bleeding that could cause death. Most aortic aneurysms don’t cause symptoms. Sometimes they can be found by doctors through tests and exams. People with symptoms feel pain in their abdomen, chest, and back.
Who should be screened?
Men over 65 who smoked cigarettes and women older than 60 who have a history of abdominal aneurysms are at greatest risk. Both Medicare Part B as well as Medicare Part C are available. Medicare AdvantageIf you are at high risk, get a screening and a referral from your doctor.
Electronic Health Records: What Role Does It Play?
Kaiser Permanente’s HealthConnect features a variety of proactive screening reminders. One for abdominal aneurysm was added when Territ was diagnosed by Dr. Tran. For members who meet the criteria, electronic alerts are now automatically sent to each doctor’s appointment. The Journal of Vascular Surgery published a Kaiser Permanente study that found electronic screening alerts had a significant impact on the number of at-risk men.
For more information about abdominal aneurysm, please visit kp.org. You can watch Ray Territ’s video at kp.org/carestories. Talk to your doctor if you have questions or need advice regarding a particular condition.
