Heather MacTaggart, ARNP

Biography

Why did you become a physician/provider? I became a nurse because of my interest in caring for the elderly and others in need of the best nursing care. I became a nurse practitioner in order to specialize in the care of those with cardiac conditions because of my growing interest in cardiology during my 12 years of nursing.
As a provider, what is your medical philosophy? Whatever good I can do let me it do it now and without reservation. When patients are in need of health care they are the most vulnerable and in need of expertise. Whatever contributions members of the health care profession can provide, they must provide. We, as healthcare professionals, must treat every patient as we would want our loved ones to be treated, and as we would want to me treated.
What type of care/clinical interests are you most passionate about? As my knowledge of cardiology grows my interest in cardiology grows. While serving as a nurse on a cardiac step-down unit, I provided care for many patients. Those patients provided me with the opportunity to learn about the human spirit and the strong will to survive. They honored me with opportunities to apply what I knew about caring for cardiac patients and they challenged me to learn more.
Why did you choose your specialty? My health care knowledge is based in cardiology after working many years on a cardiac step-down unit. I built on that knowledge to specialize in cardiology.
What qualities best describe the care you provide your patients? I provide needed care. I have had patients reach out for my hand and ask for my help. I encircled them with the help they needed, from technicians to nurses to doctors to care coordinators. I provide personal care when patients are overcome with fears I talk to them about those fears. Working in a team with other healthcare professional, I have responded to patient's needs and wants in an effort to make their struggle easier. I provide professional care. I follow the best practice guidelines in and effort to provide the best patient care and improve patient outcomes.
Being a healthcare provider, what drives/motivates you each day? Since I am a member of a professional team, I am motivated to be the best healthcare team member I can be in working with others to improve patient outcomes. Patients are the reason we get up and go to work.
What is the most important thing patients should know about you and your practice? My patients can trust me to follow the best practice guidelines and to continue adding to my knowledge, all in an effort to provide the best care possible for them. My patients can expect from me a dedication to caring for them. As an individual professional and as a member of a team of healthcare professionals, patients can expect my dedication without reservation to providing the best care possible.
Personal Interests: I am the ultimate music buff. I also enjoy my weekly board game nights with family.