About PACC
Post-Acute Cardiology Care is an independent medical practice which provides specialized cardiovascular consultation to high-risk patients residing in skilled nursing facilities (SNF). The mission of PACC is to reduce the burden of re-hospitalization for the vulnerable SNF population with cardiovascular disease and to facilitate discharge to the community for patients admitted for short term rehabilitation therapy. Dr. Orr founded PACC in 2014 in response to the growing population of older adults afflicted with cardiovascular disease being discharged to SNFs, to help optimize care for this unique population where standards and evidence based disease management are yet underdeveloped. Dr. Orr is passionate about geriatric cardiology and strongly emphasizes provision of compassionate and excellent cardiovascular care to older SNF residents through thoughtful application of geriatric principles of goal directed care, and disease management of within the context of multimorbidity, frailty and the complexities of aging.
About Dr. Orr
Nicole Orr, MD, FACC is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Tufts University School of Medicine, and the founder and president of Post-Acute Cardiology Care, LLC. She serves both as a staff cardiologist and consultant to skilled nursing facilities in the Northeast Region, and provides weekly bedside rounds for high risk residents with cardiovascular disease. She assists facilities with development of heart failure disease management programs, and provides education on the pathophysiology and management of heart disease, with emphasis on congestive heart failure, to both staff and residents. She has presented nationally on heart failure management in the SNF settings, and has published on the topic of HF care improvement in skilled nursing facilities. She is an is an active member of the American College of Cardiology’s Section of Geriatric Cardiology.
Background
As the population of patients afflicted with cardiovascular disease ages, their medical care become increasingly complex, stemming from their multiple comorbid illnesses, and declining physical and cognitive abilities. The use of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) after hospital discharge for this population has been steadily increasing over the past decades and now serves roughly 20% of older patients discharged from inpatient hospital care for congestive heart failure, among other cardiovascular conditions.
The Centers for Medical and Medicaid Services has placed great emphasis on the quality of care delivered in SNFs and Congress has recently passed legislation aimed to improved quality by penalizing SNFs for below average clinical outcomes. Despite these legislative efforts, evidence based standards of care and disease management programs for these patients are lacking. Dr. Orr founded PACC to help facilities develop programs and disease management protocols based on best practice to optimize care for their patients with congestive heart failure.
PACC in the News
Dr. Orr was recognized by Genesis for National Women Physicians Day for Cardiology.
Dr. Orr was also featured in Provider magazine, discussing the latest advances in post acute cardiac care.