For the past seven years, Paragon Healthcare has participated in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, and this is their fourth consecutive year to sponsor the event. Paragon is dedicated to serving patients with cardiac complications by providing the latest FDA-approved infusible and injectable therapies. Many patients in Paragon's Cardiac Program need inotrope therapy, nutrition support, and more — all of which can be provided in a patient's home or at an infusion center.

Living a heart-healthy life and preventing cardiac complications before they arise is essential to CEO Rick Allen and the Paragon leadership team. "Sponsoring the American Heart Association is a natural partnership," said Liz Silva, SVP of People and Community. "We are proud to support their life-changing research in the fight against heart disease and stroke. We support AHA in many ways throughout the year, including a platform sponsorship of Côtes du Coeur. In short, AHA's mission is to help people live longer, healthier lives – something we can all get behind."

Paragon Healthcare empowers its growing number of team members also to live heart-healthy lives throughout the workday. The Paragon Home Office features a state-of-the-art fitness room available for employees to use anytime during building hours. Many team members take the opportunity to get their daily cardio in before or after their shift or during their scheduled breaks.

As partners of the Heart Walk, Paragon Healthcare has had 200+ employees, friends, and family members participate in the walk at each of the last few events. This year, due to the current Covid-19 situation, AHA has made it possible for Heart Walk participants to prevent the spread of the virus by making the event virtual. Paragon already has many families committed to participating in the virtual walk this year. People nationwide can also participate in the safety of their living room, backyard, or neighborhood.

Since 2020 has posed some new challenges in the healthcare industry with immunocompromised patients, Paragon empowers them to protect themselves and others from Covid-19. These potentially at-risk patients can administer their medication in the home setting or at a Paragon Infusion Center. This reduces unnecessary exposure to the virus and gives patients a greater sense of safety.

Infusion centers are unique because they are not limited to one particular specialty, nor do they make official disease diagnoses. Rather, infusion centers furnish a service to healthcare providers who may be specialty-specific, including cardiologists. For example, a patient in the hospital or a cardiologist's care will receive a recommended treatment from that doctor and then be referred to a center to complete the course of the therapy. Paragon Infusion Centers provide patients with flexible scheduling by being open 365 days a year. The centers also feature relaxing recliners, free wifi, complimentary coffee and snacks, televisions, and magazines to increase comfort for the patient.

Certain specialty therapies are required to take place under the care of a medical professional, but many drugs can be administered in the home setting, including inotrope infusions often used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF). Our Home Cardiac Program offers a comprehensive and patient-tailored approach designed to improve the patient's quality of life and reduce the frequency of rehospitalizations due to decompensated heart failure. Paragon serves a diverse cardiac patient population comprised of people awaiting heart transplants, LVAD implantation, palliative care, hospice care, and more. 

Join Paragon in the 2020 Heart Walk to support the mission of the American Heart Association to live longer, healthier lives by moving more. For more information about Paragon Healthcare, visit paragonhealthcare.com. To learn more about the American Heart Association or the 2020 Heart Walk, visit heart.org.