“My heart just blew out one day,” says Jim Goertzen, a trim, fit, 56-year-old. “You can’t tell anything by looking.”

Jim and his wife went out for Thai food one night last August. Afterwards, he got a terrific case of “heartburn.” His “heartburn” continued for three days – no arm numbness, no nausea, and no reason to think about a heart problem.

Finally, he went to his primary care physician. He was diagnosed with “acute gastritis” and a bad cough.  Eleven days later he still fell terrible. Finally, he couldn’t breath. He headed for the nearest emergency room, which was at St. Helena Hospital.

Upon arrival, he was placed on oxygen, given battery of tests and seen by a pulmonologist who realized he had suffered a major heart attack. He later had quadruple-bypass surgery.

Goertzen wasn’t surprised by the extent of his heart disease. “Although my parents did not have heart problems, I have uncles that did.” He also smoked cigarettes for 20 years and had only quit smoking three years prior to his heart attack.

Nia Lendaris, RN, director of St. Helena Hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation program, now oversees his cardiac rehab. In addition to riding his stationary bike at home, he also uses the bike, the treadmill and free weights at the hospital rehab department. He is closely monitored as he works, and Nia says, “After a serious heart attack and bypass surgery, Jim is doing remarkably well and continues to improve.”

What he didn’t know when he arrived at St. Helena’s emergency room was that the Heart & Vascular Center is one of the leading providers of cardiovascular services in the North Bay and recognized for its quality outcomes. “I didn’t know about St. Helena Hospital’s excellent cardiac ratings until after my surgery,” Goertzen said. “I was surfing the Internet about two weeks later and checking out heart programs nationwide. I really felt good when I saw St. Helena’s top ratings.”

“I didn’t know anything about the hospital until I needed it, and ended up being treated by the best, right close to home! And I can’t say enough about the caregivers and nurses– I was in several departments, and in every one the nurses were wonderful. The serenity of the hospital location, the beautiful views, it all makes a difference.”