(12/15/10) – McLeod Health is pleased to announce the promotion of Debbie Whisenhunt to the position of Cardiology Outreach Director.

As the Cardiology Outreach Director, Whisenhunt’s responsibility will be to work with area hospitals and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to assure that heart attack patients receive appropriate and timely treatment when they present to a cardiac referral facility such as McLeod or contact the 911 systems and receive care through an EMS provider.

"The American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline is a national initiative to advance the systems of care with heart attack patients," said Whisenhunt. "The goal of the initiative is to reduce mortality and morbidity for heart attack patients and improve their overall quality of care. My role will be to engage referring hospitals and patient transport providers with each other in order to gain better understanding of ideal systems and care strategies and practices for heart attack patients based on national recommendations.

"With a heart attack time is of the essence. There is less damage to the heart and a better chance for a successful outcome the sooner treatment is administered. As an accredited Chest Pain Center, McLeod ensures that patients who come to the hospital with acute coronary symptoms are given the immediate treatment necessary to avoid as much heart damage as possible," added Whisenhunt.

Whisenhunt received her BS Degree in Nursing from the University of South Carolina – Columbia. She began her career at McLeod in 1979 as a registered nurse in the Coronary Care Unit. In 1983, she was promoted to her current position of Program Director of McLeod Cardiac Rehabilitation. In her new role, Whisenhunt will maintain this position.

"I have always enjoyed working with cardiac patients," said Whisenhunt. "Our cardiac rehab program over the years has grown from a two member staff to seven. The cardiac rehab patients are special to me as they are to all our staff. I am glad I will be able to continue to care for them and watch them on their journey to recovery. At the same time I appreciate the opportunity to reach out to a new segment of cardiac patients."

Whisenhunt and her husband John David reside in Florence. They have two children: Julia who is employed with Pee Dee Orthopaedic and Caroline who is a student at Clemson.