— OCALA, Fla. -- With the number of heart disease-related deaths rising in rural areas across the United States, AdventHealth Ocala recently hosted a special event to help inform residents about heart and care options available in their community.
More than 175 community members attended AdventHealth Ocala’s heart and lung care symposium at the Circle Square Cultural Center in Ocala.
Attendees learned about treatments, surgical technologies and the techniques used by AdventHealth Ocala’s team of expert doctors when caring for heart and lung-related conditions and illnesses. They were also able to ask questions of the doctors during a panel moderated by AdventHealth Ocala President and CEO Erika Skula. The event featured interactive booths that displayed the state-of-the-art technology being used to care for patients, including the innovative MONARCH platform to fight lung cancer. According to the manufacturer, the MONARCH Technology integrates the latest advancements in robotics, software data science and endoscopy to find cancer in the lung in earlier stages.
“We were delighted to have such a fantastic turnout from the community, so our teams could offer them more information and insight into the treatment options available to them here where they live,” said Dr. Omeni Osian, a cardiothoracic surgeon at AdventHealth Ocala who participated in the event. “This is all part of our on-going mission to provide exceptional whole-person care and help members of our community live long, health lives.”
Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death across the United States and in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Health, in 2023, the death rate from heart disease in Marion County was about 221 per 100,000 people, which is higher than the state average of 135 per 100,000 people.
The U.S. Census bureau says one-fifth of Americans live in rural areas, and data shows on average they live three years less than those who live in urban areas, largely due to heart disease and strokes. Recent research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology also shows this difference widened between 2010 and 2022, driven by a 21% increase in cardiovascular deaths among working-age rural adults.
AdventHealth Ocala’s expert and award-winning Cardiac and Lung Care teams have a long history of positive outcomes and is guided by clinical research and innovation.
You can find more information about the heart and lung care offered at AdventHealth Ocala by going to AdventHealth Ocala | Ocala's Leading Hospital.