Being Proactive is Easy with Care and Expertise Close to Home
Wife, Happy Camper, Cardiology Patient
"Dr. Nootens is so nice and personable, and he really listens to you. He is also very thorough and found some things during my follow-up testing that I had no idea needed addressing."
Trina Titus, 73, needed foot surgery at the beginning of the year which required a routine pre-surgical exam. Although she was cleared for what turned out to be a successful surgery, some abnormalities in her electrocardiogram (EKG) were identified. Titus had dealt with a slight heart murmur her whole life without needing medication and has a history of hypertension. Her Primary Care Provider Rebekah Dunn, P.A.-C., advised her it was time to see a cardiologist.
Titus was referred to MyMichigan Invasive Cardiologist Mark Nootens, M.D. Dr. Nootens joined the West Branch heart and vascular team in late 2022. He works with patients who have a variety of cardiac-related conditions such as coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, valvular and structural heart disease, congenital heart defects and other complex cardiac conditions. “My primary focus is on aggressive risk factor modification for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events and to maximize my patient’s overall quality of life,” Dr. Nootens said.
In Titus’s case, her a blood pressure medication was having an impact on her heart activity. “When I first met with Dr. Nootens, I was so impressed with his demeanor,” she said. “He is so nice and personable, and he really listens to you. He is also very thorough and found some things during my follow-up testing that I had no idea needed addressing.”
In addition to modifying her blood pressure medication, Dr. Nootens also noticed she had low potassium. When potassium levels are low, cells are unable to fire repeatedly, and muscles, nerves and the heart may not function normally. After a round potassium supplements, Titus’s blood work showed she is now within the normal range.
“Dr. Nootens went above and beyond with testing and modifying medications to suit my personal needs,” shared Titus. “The nurses in the office make you feel like family, and I can communicate with them on MyMichigan’s MyChart patient portal with any questions that might come up between visits. It is a fantastic working relationship with the entire office.”
Titus lives about 20 minutes from West Branch and loves the fact that she can receive all her care close to home. “All my doctors are in one place,” she said. “That makes being proactive with my health so easy.”
Titus continues to see Dr. Nootens to monitor her heart condition and manage her medications and is feeling better than ever. She is looking forward to plenty of camping this year with her husband in their new travel camper, worry free.
Those who would like more information on Dr. Nootens may visit www.mymichigan.org/nootens. Those seeking information about MyMichigan’s comprehensive heart and vascular services in West Branch may visit www.mymichigan.org/heartcarewb.
