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About Wellstar

Our patients are the center of everything we do. We're nationally ranked and locally recognized for our high-quality care, inclusive culture, exceptional doctors and caregivers, and one of the largest and most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia.

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Wellstar Heart Care

Integrated, Collaborative Cardiovascular Care

Wellstar provides innovative, compassionate care across the entire spectrum of heart disease and conditions. Our expertise and award-winning care have made Wellstar a preferred destination for cardiac wellness.

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Heart Care at Wellstar

From routine to complex, Wellstar offers comprehensive cardiovascular care. Our doctors are experts in cardiovascular disease and ensure a whole-person treatment plan tailor-made for you. Patients experience evidence-based treatment from a range of nonsurgical methods and minimally invasive procedures to highly complex cardiac surgery.

Our Care Philosophy

Wellstar understands that every person is different, and we know how to care for each unique cardiovascular system. Our team includes expert heart specialists who will craft a personalized treatment plan just for you, whether it is a lifestyle change, medication, an outpatient procedure, surgery or mechanical support. We are here to ensure you receive the specialized care you need. No matter where you live, you have access to the care that is right for you.


Our Care Team

At Wellstar, patients have access to a personalized, multidisciplinary care team who offers you comprehensive care from screening and diagnosis to treatment and support. Our team works together to ensure that you receive the complete heart care you need. We collaborate with experts in other medical specialties to provide you with exceptional care that addresses your individual needs. In addition to physicians with expertise in cardiology, a patient's care team may include nurses, therapists, dietitians and athletic trainers.


Board-certified physicians

Patients are cared for by board-certified and world-renowned heart specialists at award-winning cardiac care centers providing a network of support and patient-centered care. Some of our heart specialists are double and triple board-certified, ensuring your heart is in the best care.


Specialized Care

Our multidisciplinary teams often include board-certified physicians who have the most advanced training and knowledge in their fields. Our heart specialists directly connect to Mayo Clinic and can request detailed consultations and second opinions for complex cases at no additional cost to the patient.


Heart Care Research & Clinical Trials

The Wellstar Research Institute works closely with select local and national partners to enroll patients in clinical trials, often providing groundbreaking treatments years before FDA approval.

Groundbreaking clinical trials in your community

When patients qualify, they have access to groundbreaking treatments, procedures and technologies through clinical trials, often years before the FDA approves them. Wellstar participates in more than 20 clinical research studies in structural heart, interventional cardiology, and heart failure, giving our patients access to advanced treatments close to home.

National partners

The Wellstar Research Institute is attractive to drug and device companies researching because of our dedicated investigators, diverse patient base, and excellent reputation. We participate in trials with device manufacturers such as Medtronic, Boston Scientific and Corindus.

A track record of clinical trial success

Because of clinical trials our patients have participated in, new therapies are now available more widely. One example of an advancement that came out of a clinical trial we participated in is an implantable, remote monitoring device for heart failure that detects symptoms and alerts physicians so they can avoid hospitalization.

Thanks to our patients

Thanks to patients before you, many effective treatments are now available. And, there could be a trial that’s right for you. Patients who are interested in learning more should speak with a heart care specialist.

Accreditations & Awards

Wellstar consistently receives awards and recognition from the nation’s authorities on healthcare quality. We continually strive to provide comprehensive, innovative care.


Comprehensive Cardiac Care Center Certification

The Comprehensive Cardiac Care Center certification is the premier cardiovascular award from The Joint Commission and American Heart Association earned by hospitals demonstrating high-quality care using evidence-based, guidelines-driven treatment and fostering collaboration throughout the care system. Wellstar Kennestone Hospital was the first in Georgia to receive this certification, and is the only one in the state.


Certified Chest Pain Centers

Certified Chest Pain Centers provide fast, state-of-the-art treatment to prevent heart attacks. A highly skilled team with advanced knowledge in heart attack management offers rapid therapy for all our chest pain patients. Wellstar Heart offers a certified chest pain center near you.

Wellstar Cobb Hospital

Wellstar Douglas Hospital

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital

Wellstar Paulding Hospital

Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center


Emergency Cardiac Care Centers

Leaders in life-saving heart care, Wellstar has the largest network of hospitals in Georgia designated as ECCC by the Department of Public Health. When you or someone you know has a heart attack, you can trust Wellstar to provide fast and effective treatment. Our mission is to improve survival rates, reduce disability and improve quality of life from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and heart attacks.


Level I ECCC

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital


Level II ECCC

Wellstar Cobb Hospital

Wellstar Douglas Hospital

Wellstar North Fulton Hospital

Wellstar Paulding Hospital

Wellstar Foundation

As a not-for-profit, gifts to the Wellstar Foundation make it possible to provide patients with additional resources and amenities for a higher level of comfort and care. Every dollar donated supports Wellstar's vision of delivering world-class healthcare, carried out through patient-centered programs, advancements in technology and making reliable healthcare available close to home. Your generosity also makes it possible to provide free heart screenings and diagnostic services to uninsured and underinsured patients every year. For more information about how to support our fight against heart disease, visit the Foundation.

More Information

For more information, call our outreach line.

(770) 956-STAR

PeopleCare Stories


BowCare

Johnny "Bow" Matthews was preparing for bed when he felt a tightness in his chest he just couldn’t shake. He tried to sleep, but chest pains wouldn’t let him drift off. He attempted to wake his wife, Deidra, but she wouldn’t budge.

Read his story

FrankCare

As the tuba player in his band, Frank sets the bass tone for every other instrument, for every song. So, when his heart lost its pace, skipping beats and banging against his chest, he knew there was something wrong with the most important instrument in his body.

Read his story

BrettCare

After working in construction for over 20 years, Brett Faucett knows all about the right building blocks. That’s why Brett knew something was wrong when the numbness started in his left arm. It came and went several times before he ended up behind the wheel of his car.

Read his story

Services


  • Aortic Center of Excellence
  • Autonomic Disorders
  • Cardiac Diagnostics
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • General Cardiology
  • Heart Failure and Advanced Heart Failure
  • Heart Rhythm Disorder
  • Interventional Cardiology and Heart Attack Care
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Prevention and Wellness
  • Structural Heart and Valve

Locations


Currently showing 22 total listed locations
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
1120 Wellstar Way
Suite 303
Holly Springs, GA 30114
Phone: (770) 704-1955
mi away
2156
Cardiovascular Medicine
34.14293
-84.51987
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
3747 Roswell Road
Suite 213
Marietta, GA 30062
Available:
Monday - Friday
8am - 5pm
Phone: (770) 321-3490
mi away
2548
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.98032
-84.44474
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
120 Stonebridge Parkway
Suite 110
Woodstock, GA 30189
Available:
Monday - Friday
7am - 5pm
Phone: (678) 324-4400
mi away
2144
Cardiovascular Medicine
34.10009
-84.53725
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
1602 Vernon Road
Suite 300
LaGrange, GA 30240
Phone: (706) 242-5100
mi away
2150
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.03154
-85.06369
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Surgery
229 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 874-1788
mi away
2536
Cardiovascular Surgery
33.75992
-84.38644
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Surgery
61 Whitcher Street NE
Suite 4100
Marietta, GA 30060
Available:
Monday - Friday
8am - 5pm
Phone: (770) 590-4180
mi away
2530
Cardiovascular Surgery
33.96719
-84.55169
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
1791 Mulkey Road
Suite 101
Austell, GA 30106
Phone: (470) 732-3868
mi away
2186
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.85859
-84.60551
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
61 Whitcher Street NE
Suite 4100
Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: (770) 590-4180
mi away
2152
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.96719
-84.55169
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
6001 Professional Parkway
Suite 2080
Douglasville, GA 30134
Available:
Monday - Friday
7am - 5pm
Phone: (678) 715-5080
mi away
2180
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.74062
-84.72772
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
699 Church Street NE
Suite 230
Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: (770) 424-6893
mi away
2586
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.96943
-84.55125
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
4500 Hospital Boulevard
Suite 320
Roswell, GA 30076
Phone: (770) 410-4520
mi away
2154
Cardiovascular Medicine
34.06314
-84.32256
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Pediatric Cardiology
6043 Prestley Mill Road
Suite E
Douglasville, GA 30134
Phone: (770) 920-2255
mi away
3240
Pediatric Cardiology
33.73826
-84.7307
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Pediatric Cardiology
4581 South Cobb Drive SE
Suite 100
Smyrna, GA 30080
Phone: (470) 956-9166
mi away
3238
Pediatric Cardiology
33.84391
-84.49854
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
144 Bill Carruth Parkway
Suite 4200
Hiram, GA 30141
Available:
Monday - Friday
7am - 5pm
Phone: (678) 324-4444
mi away
2148
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.90099
-84.78053
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
2450 Old Milton Parkway
Suite 206
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Phone: (470) 267-0430
mi away
2438
Cardiovascular Medicine
34.07072
-84.28683
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
4550 Cobb Parkway North NW
Suite 213
Acworth, GA 30101
Available:
Monday - Friday
7am - 5pm
Phone: (770) 974-8479
mi away
2676
Cardiovascular Medicine
34.06791
-84.72319
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
1700 Hospital South Drive
Suite 409
Austell, GA 30106
Available:
Monday - Friday
7am - 5pm
Phone: (770) 732-9100
mi away
2316
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.85579
-84.6051
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
55 Whitcher Street NE
Suite 430
Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: (770) 424-6893
mi away
2660
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.96682
-84.55132
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
55 Whitcher Street NE
Suite 350
Marietta, GA 30060
Available:
Monday - Friday
7am - 5pm
Phone: (770) 424-6893
mi away
2146
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.96682
-84.55132
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Surgery
3885 Princeton Lakes Way SW
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30331
Phone: (470) 956-9471
mi away
3220
Cardiovascular Surgery
33.6601
-84.51443
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine
4441 Atlanta Road SE
Suite 213
Smyrna, GA 30080
Available:
Monday - Friday
8am - 5pm
Phone: (470) 956-9480
mi away
2480
Cardiovascular Medicine
33.84665
-84.48984
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1
Wellstar Pediatric Cardiology
1180 Ernest W Barrett Parkway NW
Suite 102A
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (470) 956-9171
mi away
3236
Pediatric Cardiology
34.00114
-84.58453
,,,,https://mychart.wellstar.org/mychart/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=&dept=1003&view=plain&public=1

For more accurate listings be sure to enable location services.

Dismiss Turn on location services

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

1120 Wellstar Way
Suite 303
Holly Springs, GA 30114
mi away
Phone: (770) 704-1955

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

3747 Roswell Road
Suite 213
Marietta, GA 30062
mi away
Phone: (770) 321-3490

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

120 Stonebridge Parkway
Suite 110
Woodstock, GA 30189
mi away
Phone: (678) 324-4400

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

1602 Vernon Road
Suite 300
LaGrange, GA 30240
mi away
Phone: (706) 242-5100

Wellstar Cardiovascular Surgery

229 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30303
mi away
Phone: (404) 874-1788

Wellstar Cardiovascular Surgery

61 Whitcher Street NE
Suite 4100
Marietta, GA 30060
mi away
Phone: (770) 590-4180

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

1791 Mulkey Road
Suite 101
Austell, GA 30106
mi away
Phone: (470) 732-3868

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

61 Whitcher Street NE
Suite 4100
Marietta, GA 30060
mi away
Phone: (770) 590-4180

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

6001 Professional Parkway
Suite 2080
Douglasville, GA 30134
mi away
Phone: (678) 715-5080

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

699 Church Street NE
Suite 230
Marietta, GA 30060
mi away
Phone: (770) 424-6893

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

4500 Hospital Boulevard
Suite 320
Roswell, GA 30076
mi away
Phone: (770) 410-4520

Wellstar Pediatric Cardiology

6043 Prestley Mill Road
Suite E
Douglasville, GA 30134
mi away
Phone: (770) 920-2255

Wellstar Pediatric Cardiology

4581 South Cobb Drive SE
Suite 100
Smyrna, GA 30080
mi away
Phone: (470) 956-9166

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

144 Bill Carruth Parkway
Suite 4200
Hiram, GA 30141
mi away
Phone: (678) 324-4444

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

2450 Old Milton Parkway
Suite 206
Alpharetta, GA 30009
mi away
Phone: (470) 267-0430

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

4550 Cobb Parkway North NW
Suite 213
Acworth, GA 30101
mi away
Phone: (770) 974-8479

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

1700 Hospital South Drive
Suite 409
Austell, GA 30106
mi away
Phone: (770) 732-9100

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

55 Whitcher Street NE
Suite 430
Marietta, GA 30060
mi away
Phone: (770) 424-6893

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

55 Whitcher Street NE
Suite 350
Marietta, GA 30060
mi away
Phone: (770) 424-6893

Wellstar Cardiovascular Surgery

3885 Princeton Lakes Way SW
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30331
mi away
Phone: (470) 956-9471

Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine

4441 Atlanta Road SE
Suite 213
Smyrna, GA 30080
mi away
Phone: (470) 956-9480

Wellstar Pediatric Cardiology

1180 Ernest W Barrett Parkway NW
Suite 102A
Kennesaw, GA 30144
mi away
Phone: (470) 956-9171

News & Events


Related Articles
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Highlights

Wellstar: PeopleCare Online

At Wellstar, people are at the center of everything we do, from compassionate medical care in hundreds of locations across Georgia to your online experience of accessing that care. That's why we've redesigned our website with you in mind.

Our new website is crafted to enhance your healthcare experience and features a clean, modern layout that will make it even easier for you to access physicians, make appointments, find services and locations nearby, and so much more.

PeopleCare at Your Fingertips

The new and improved wellstar.org is part of the ongoing evolution of the Wellstar brand and yet another example of PeopleCare. We want to make sure that you get the information and resources you need as quickly as possible.

The updated, mobile-friendly online presence will help you find critical resources in just a few taps. You can easily locate helpful features like “Find a Doctor” and “Pay Your Bill” directly on the homepage. If you are visiting another page on the website, simply click the “For Patients and Families” tab on the top left of the menu bar.

Some key resources on Wellstar's new website include:

  • Find a Doctor – Getting convenient care close to home just got easier. Click on the "Find a Doctor," search by your location, pick a specialty that best fits your personal care, and you will be paired with world-class physicians immediately.  
  • Our Services – At Wellstar, we know that every health journey is different. When you use the "Our Services" button located on the homepage, it will help guide you to your personal healthcare destination. Once you're on the page, you'll be able to pick the service that best suits you and your care. 
  • Find a Location – Find a convenient Wellstar location near you. Simply click on the "Find a Location" button on the homepage or click the "Book Now" button at the top of any page.
  • Pay Your Bill – View your medical bills online, safely and securely. Click the "Pay Your Bill" button on the homepage or visit your MyChart account on the top right corner of any page.  

COVID-19 Resource Center

Get the most up-to-date information from our health experts by heading to the COVID-19 Resource Center. You'll receive the latest news on the COVID-19 vaccine, testing and other helpful tips like how to care for a sick loved one and managing your mental health during the pandemic.

Moving Forward & the Future of Wellstar.org

In addition to the user-friendly design and up-to-date information, our new modern platform provides enhanced stability and security. That means you can always feel safe when browsing our website or paying your bill online.

This launch is just the beginning for wellstar.org, as we continue to address the ever-changing healthcare needs of the community. We hope you like our new digital home!

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact us at online@wellstar.org.

Read more
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PeopleCare

JohnCare

John Petrick loves the simple things in life. He revels in time spent with family, reeling in a big catch and feeling the crisp wind in his face during a morning bike ride.

However, for a man that enjoys such simple pleasures, John’s heart health is quite complicated. For a long time, his well-being felt like a puzzle that no one could quite figure out.

John’s complex heart issues first began over two decades ago, when he nearly died after his heart suddenly went into an abnormal rhythm.

After the life-threatening heart episode, specialists in California diagnosed him with ventricular tachycardia (VT), a severe heart condition in which abnormal electrical signals cause the heart to beat faster. Then later, he was also diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular and rapid heart rhythm that can cause heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

From defibrillators to heart surgeries, John and his Californian care team worked hard to manage the ups and downs of his heart conditions. But after spending years in the Golden State, John was ready to take on a new adventure: moving over 2,000 miles away to Georgia.

“The decision to move to Georgia was difficult because of my heart conditions,” John shared. “I needed a doctor who would really take the time to sort everything out.”

Luckily, it wasn’t long before John was connected with an entire team of Wellstar heart experts delivering comprehensive care all within the same health system.

Finding the Right Rhythm

Before being referred for specialty care by his Wellstar primary care provider, John briefly received heart care from another health system in Georgia. However, he had some reservations about his treatment.

“Honestly, it wasn’t the level of care – especially in terms of empathy – that I was used to,” he admitted. “And that’s a scary situation when you have a condition like mine.”

That was never a problem at Wellstar. As soon as he met with Wellstar Health System Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology Dr. Narendra Kanuru, John knew the physician was in his corner.

“I could tell Dr. Kanuru really took the time to study my case,” John said, remembering his first visit with the specialist. “He recited my medical history from the last 20 years, without having to look at any papers.”

Since then, they have developed a great healthcare partnership, always keeping an open line of communication.

“I feel so comfortable expressing any fears or apprehensions about my conditions or treatment with Dr. Kanuru. He’s always very receptive,” John shared. “His level of empathy, professional expertise and ability to communicate and understand me is just as valuable as his technical, medical skills.”

Along with Dr. Kanuru’s expertise, Wellstar Cardiologist Dr. David Caras provides an essential complement to John’s cardiovascular care. While a cardiac electrophysiologist hones in on the functional and rhythmic areas of the heart, a cardiologist offers a broad spectrum of heart care.

While each focusing on their areas of expertise, the two heart specialists collaborate to create the best treatment plan for John, and adjust it along the way.

“Dr. Kanuru and Dr. Caras work together as a team,” John said. “It’s truly remarkable and beautiful. Often, I’ll go to see one of the doctors and they’ll mention a conversation they had about me with the other recently.”

Read his story
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PeopleCare

John&JaninCare

If “adventure” were a gene, John Petrick surely passed it on to his daughter, Janin.

The father-daughter duo has always wanted to experience everything life has to offer. Together, the pair has survived an avalanche in the Alaskan wilderness, spent the night stranded on a cliff and even made a cross-country move from California to Georgia.

But one thing they never expected to have in common was a rare heart condition.

Instead of putting their shared adventures on pause, John and Janin teamed up with Wellstar in different ways to manage their heart conditions. With an entire team of heart specialists working seamlessly together, the pair found the expert, specialized cardiac care they needed – and it never skipped a beat.

Discovering the “Janin Genome”

For more than two decades, John managed the ups and downs of atrial fibrillation (Afib) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) with specialists in California. But after moving cross-country to Georgia, he had to start over from scratch.

With such complex heart conditions and a more recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure, John knew he couldn’t trust his care to just anyone. At Wellstar, he soon found an expansive, multidisciplinary team – including cardiologists, electrophysiologists and surgeons.

Similarly, Wellstar would also end up helping John’s daughter, Janin, following her treatment for a severe heart episode – one that was strikingly similar to her father’s. After several spells of faintness, Janin was equipped with a Holter monitor, a wearable device that records heart rhythms.

“After just 18 hours, I got a call from my doctor’s office. My electrophysiologist was gravely concerned about the readings,” Janin recalled. “Apparently, the night before, my heart had completely stopped for five seconds. And, at that very moment, I was in a dangerous arrhythmia.”

Just like her father, Janin was diagnosed with VT and an atrioventricular block, which occurs when the electrical signals traveling from the upper chambers of the heart to the lowers chambers is blocked.

She soon got a defibrillator implanted to help keep her heart in regular rhythm. As Janin started to get back on track after the surgery, her doctor felt more answers could be uncovered. At her electrophysiologist’s suggestion, she participated in genetic testing.

At Wellstar, John underwent the same genetic testing to see if any clues about their heart conditions could be uncovered in their DNA. With just a simple blood draw, the Wellstar Genetics team can get an inside look at the hereditary markers for certain genetic conditions.

After sharing so many adventures and similar personality traits, it was no surprise when the results revealed the same exact abnormality in both of their genes.

However, the genetic discovery – playfully nicknamed the “Janin Genome” by John and his daughter – was a first for the heart specialists. While genetic tests for other heart conditions like cardiac disease may be more commonplace, testing for arrhythmic heart disorders like VT is rare.

“When we got the results, they told us, ‘We've never seen this before – such an identical test result, regarding the same gene and the same anomaly affecting heart rhythm,’” John said. “The doctors concluded there may be a genetic connection to our heart problems, and it was worth paying attention to and exploring further.”

The Petricks are now in the process of getting the genetic testing done for the whole family, so all of their loved ones can take charge of their own wellness.

“After we had our testing, it was a starting point for our family,” Janin said, explaining how the genetic testing had a positive ripple effect for her family members. “We encouraged every single one of our blood relatives to go through genetic testing.”

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