Heart & Soul: Faces of Cardiac Care
Meet Kayla Geddis, RN, BSN, Clinical Supervisor, Cardiovascular Center-Hyannis
An Aha Moment Can Lead to Lifestyle Changes
There is no big secret to maintaining a healthy heart. Diet, exercise, follow your plan of care.
It may sound basic and boring. “But until you have your aha moment and you’re ready to make improvements, a lifestyle change is probably not going to happen,” says Kayla Geddis, RN, BSN, Clinical Supervisor at the Cardiovascular Center in Hyannis.
In her role, Geddis supervises a clinical staff of 20 people, including medical assistants and nurses. She oversees workflows for providers and focuses on process improvement and high-quality patient care. Prior to stepping into this position last August, Geddis ran the Coumadin Clinic for primary care offices across the Cape, where she learned about care coordination and autonomy. Early in her career, she worked as an EMT and phlebotomist before making her way into nursing.
“Cardiology is not my background, but I’ve gained so much knowledge from the people who are here. It’s been a nice collaboration,” says Geddis, whose EPIC EHR expertise and nursing background help her to run a smooth, teamwork-driven operation.
Geddis says medical staff regularly talk to patients about how to change their habits and lifestyle. “It might sound simple to improve your diet and exercise, but it can be a very big ask for someone to take on,” says Geddis. “If someone has to start cooking and stop getting takeout, an older patient, for instance, might not have the stamina, means or desire. Any lifestyle change is really big because you have to form new habits—you have to have the desire to do those things.”
What’s the solution? Geddis says it helps to hear advice from their friendly cardiology nurse, a doctor they trust or someone they are close to—those things can make a big difference. Even observing the healthy habits of your coworkers can be motivating.
“One of the nurses here said to me recently, ‘I look at your big water bottle every day (64 ounces) and now I’m drinking more water.’ That was her moment of sudden inspiration,” says Geddis.
At the Cardiovascular Center, Geddis is excited about the future. She shared two new cardiology doctors will be coming on board later this year, so there will be improved access for patients. “Everyone here has a different story, but we are all here for similar reasons—to provide high-quality patient care—and I think that is pretty special.”
