COURAGE Clinic
Do you have the COURAGE to avoid coronary artery disease?
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" - Mary Anne Radmacher
What is the COURAGE clinic?
The COURAGE clinic is a personalized program designed to prevent heart and other vascular diseases by aggressively addressing your risk factors. This program brings together a team of health care experts in one place at one time to focus on you. It will give you the best proven care for your preventing heart attacks, based on the methods and results of the COURAGE study (originally published in the New England Journal of Medicine).
Who is eligible?
Anyone with a history of:
- coronary artery disease
- heart attack
- bypass surgery
- abdominal aneurysms
- peripheral arterial disease
- carotid artery disease
- stroke
- diabetes
The COURAGE clinic helps manage your risk factors for these conditions.
What will I receive?
- A nurse assigned to your care who will know your health problems well and be available in the clinic and by telephone to direct your treatment.
- Supervised care by our board-certified cardiologists and lipidologists at the Heart, Lung & Vascular Center.
- A team of providers focused on helping you achieve all your prevention goals, including exercise physiologists, dietitians, endocrinologists and more.
What risk factors do you look at?
Risk factors assessed and managed in the COURAGE clinic include:
- smoking
- LDL cholesterol
- non-HDL cholesterol
- blood pressure
- hemoglobin A1C (for diabetics)
- depression
- body mass index
- waist circumference
- exercise.
What is expected of me?
- A desire to do everything possible to prevent heart and vascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis.
- Please attend all visits (at least four per year). You're the captain of your team!
- A positive attitude.
- Keep us updated on any changes in your health.
- Notify us of cancellations. Remember - the visits can involve meeting with a number of your team members on the same day. This is for your convenience. If you cancel one of your COURAGE visits, it is helpful to give us at least 24 hours notice, as this will mean cancelling visits with a number of team members.
Can my primary care doctor be involved?
Yes! Communicating with your other doctors is an important part of this program. Your nurse case manager will be sure your primary care provider is aware that you are enrolled and that he or she receives records of your visits. She will also call and/or e-mail your doctor's office whenever there is a need to coordinate care. Your primary care provider has full input into your heart health management.
What will it cost?
All of the COURAGE services are subject to the terms of your individual insurance coverage. Those services that are not covered by insurance can be discussed with your case manager on a case-by-case basis. If you have Network Health Plan, most services are covered once you enroll in the COURAGE clinic.
What if I don't normally go to Affinity for my care? Can I still enroll?
Yes! You will need to attend the COURAGE sessions at Affinity, but all your other care can remain with your current health care providers. We will work to include them as part of your team and keep them informed. If they have not heard of our program, we will be glad to send them information.
How can I get started?
To learn more or to enroll in the COURAGE clinic, please call (920) 730-6700. Or, your primary care provider can refer you to the clinic. We look forward to hearing from you.
