General News
31 December, 2023
Cardiology services to expand
Grampians Health has expanded its cardiology services in Horsham as part of efforts to make specialised and timely heart health care more accessible to the Grampians region.
Consultant cardiologist Dr Rajiv Ananthakrishna will now be travelling to Grampians Health Horsham every fortnight for ambulatory care.
Dr Rajiv also supports the Horsham campus by providing advice to inpatients and cardiac patients at Wimmera Base Hospital via telehealth consultations from Ballarat.
“Cardiac disease significantly impacts regional Australia where residents often face higher rates of heart problems compared to urban areas, largely due to limited access to healthcare services, lifestyle factors and socioeconomic challenges," Dr Rob Grenfell, chief strategy and regions officer at Grampians Health, said.
"This disparity highlights the need for targeted health interventions and improved medical resources in these communities."
Dr Rajiv is a comprehensively trained cardiologist with extensive clinical and research experience in cardiology and has worked in India, Singapore and South Australia before joining Grampians Health last year.
Dr Grenfell said Grampians Health was planning to expand its cardiology services in Horsham and would soon begin performing exercise stress tests to help to diagnose and monitor certain types of heart diseases and conditions.
In future, a public echocardiography service and cardioversion to correct an abnormally fast heart rate will also be introduced.