Seamless Care Saves Local Woman’s Life

Emergency Department

Last fall, Tiffany Tyler arrived at North Oaks Medical Center out of breath. “I thought it was the flu. I felt drained. Just breathing caused pain,” Tyler explained. “I was really, really short of breath. I felt like I was going to pass out.”

In the North Oaks Medical Center Emergency Department, Dr. Gary Mall recognized right away that her breathing issues were only part of the problem. Tyler’s heart was not beating
normally, and her condition was rapidly deteriorating. 

“My heart actually stopped,” Tyler confirmed. “They were trying to bring me back.” 

Tyler’s aunt was in the room with her and later described how hard the Emergency Department team fought to revive her.  “My aunt could feel how much they actually cared about me. She said they kept saying, ‘We’re not going to lose her.’ She could see the emotion on their faces as they worked to revive me.” 

Once Tyler was stabilized, the integrated care available at North Oaks Medical Center meant she got swift resolution to her condition. Dr. Mall collaborated with hospitalists and cardiologists to develop a lifesaving care path for Tyler. 

Cardiology

Tyler's health had been severely compromised due to irregular cardiac rhythms, which was disrupting her body's normal function and hampering her lungs' ability to discharge carbon dioxide – a consequence of her heart's abnormal pumping.

They concluded she needed a pacemaker. Dr. Georges Khoueiry, a renowned North Oaks cardiologist, placed it to regulate her heart rhythm. 

During a routine follow-up appointment at North Oaks Pulmonology Clinic later that fall, Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Littell was putting Tyler through the paces of a standard lung function test.

“I just couldn’t do it; it felt like something was stopping me from being able to deep breathe,” Tyler noted. 

Consequently, further testing followed with the Gastroenterology Department, which revealed that Tyler had stage 3 colon cancer. A tumor was indeed blocking the space her lungs needed to expand. 

It was then that Dr. Georges Tanios with North Oaks Hematology & Oncology became part of Tyler’s care team. He tailored a targeted, cancer-fighting care plan for Tyler that included surgical and chemotherapy interventions.

“The level of care I received was just beyond words,” Tyler praised. “Everyone was incredibly warm and attentive. They truly took the time to listen to my needs.”

Pulmonology

During a routine follow-up appointment at North Oaks Pulmonology Clinic later that fall, Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Littell was putting Tyler through the paces of a standard lung function test.

“I just couldn’t do it; it felt like something was stopping me from being able to deep breathe,” Tyler noted. 

Consequently, further testing followed with the Gastroenterology Department, which revealed that Tyler had stage 3 colon cancer. A tumor was indeed blocking the space her lungs needed to expand. 

Hematology & Oncology

It was then that Dr. Georges Tanios with North Oaks Hematology & Oncology became part of Tyler’s care team. He tailored a targeted, cancer-fighting care plan for Tyler that included surgical and chemotherapy interventions.

“The level of care I received was just beyond words,” Tyler praised. “Everyone was incredibly warm and attentive. They truly took the time to listen to my needs.”

“The North Oaks team excels in what they do and truly care about my health and well-being. I’m sticking with North Oaks!” - Tiffany Tyler

Tyler went on to attribute her survival to the top-notch care she experienced with every provider and in every setting of her healthcare journey with North Oaks Health System. She is convinced that, without the exceptional diagnostic and interventional skills of each North Oaks provider involved in her care, she would not be alive today.