Individualized Cardiac Care that puts patients first

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Connection. Interaction. Support.We prioritize those qualities in our personal relationships, but it can be challenging to fi nd them in health care. This can be both frustrating and concerning, especially when dealing with cardiac issues.When Dr. Georg Couturier founded Village Heart and Vein in 2011, his mission was to recruit a team of doctors, who are not only highly skilled in their areas of cardiac expertise but are also approachable and compassionate doctors who put their patients fi rst.As the full-service cardiology team at Village Heart and Vein has expanded to meet the community’s needs, the most recent addition is Joel R. Garcia, MS, MD, FACC, FCCP, a board certifi ed cardiologist and internist.An expert in most cardiac imaging modalities, Dr. Garcia focuses on general and invasive (non-interventional) cardiology and advanced heart failure. Having completed his fellowship in cardiology from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Dr. Garcia has held academic appointments as an assistant professor of medicine at Florida State University College of Medicine and University of Central Florida College of Medicine, where he received the Educator of the Year award. He is a past president of the American Heart Association in Orlando.

 PRIORITIZING PATIENTS 

 At Village Heart and Vein, patients benefi t from the warm personal setting, as compared with a large hospital system. The practice’s patient-driven approach is right in line with Dr. Garcia’s own philosophy of quality, a ordable, evidence-based care. “In private practice, care can be more intimate,” he notes. “The doctors can be closer to their patients and practice medicine on a smaller scale, which establishes long-term continuity of care.”

 PROACTIVE MEASURES

Medicine is often reactive, instead of proactive, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead of waiting until a cardiac event has happened, the team at Village Heart and Vein seeks to identify and address issues before they become a crisis. “I’m a big believer in prevention in terms of seeing patients routinely and screening appropriately,” says Dr. Garcia. “With the imaging we have available now, we can diagnose and treat patients much earlier than we could historically. We can get a patient treated before a disease burden or cardiac event happens at 2am.”He explains that the practice uses specifi c tests and programs to identify problems—even when a patient is asymptomatic–so they can be treated proactively.“We can change the impact on patients because of the imaging and diagnostic modalities we have,” he notes. As some patients have discovered the hard way, insurance restrictions can be a roadblock.

 “We work with patients to fi ne tune their overall cardiac risk and fi nd screening tests that are a ordable, cost e ective and wouldn’t be limited by insurance restrictions,” says Dr. Garcia. 

 Being proactive can also change the fi nancial picture. Dr. Garcia points out that one reason health care expenses are so high is because many patients aren’t treated until after they’ve had a heart attack or other cardiac event.“This is why it’s so important to have that relationship with a physician who knows you and can fi nd the right prescription of care for you,” notes Dr. Garcia. “This can extend patient longevity and also reduce health care costs.” 

 INDIVIDUALIZED CARE

Garcia views every patient as a VIP and treats them as if they were family members. This attentive individualized care means patients never feel “like a number.” He urges patients to do their homework when choosing a doctor.“I feel strongly that patients should research their doctors. The internet makes this possible. Look up their reviews and see what people say about them,” he advises. “We do this when buying products, so do the research and read the reviews when fi nding a doctor.”Dr. Garcia began seeing patients at Village Heart and Vein on September 7, 2023. He will practice primarily at the Leesburg location but will also see patients at the UF Health Leesburg Hospital.A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Garcia moved to central Florida in 2006 and his family loves the lifestyle here. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Beth, for 24 years. The couple has three sons–two in college and one in high school. Living on a lake means boating and plenty of water activities. That makes for a great time with the family, which is Dr. Garcia’s main focus when he’s not working.Village Heart and Vein is a trusted resource for both prevention and treatment. Services include all areas of cardiology, electrophysiology and vascular disease.