Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Heart & Vascular >
  • ... >
  • About Us >
  • Patient Stories >
  • Heart Disease >
  • Tabby Baer
Heart & Vascular
About Us
Awards & Recognition
Your Care Team
Classes, Events, & News
Giving
Patient Stories
Heart Disease
Heart Rhythm Disorder
Heart Transplant
Heart Valve Disease
Pulmonary Hypertension
Vascular Conditions
Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us
Heart & Vascular
About Us
Awards & Recognition
Your Care Team
Classes, Events, & News
Giving
Patient Stories
Heart Disease
Heart Rhythm Disorder
Heart Transplant
Heart Valve Disease
Pulmonary Hypertension
Vascular Conditions
Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
For Patients
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Tabby Baer: Cardiac Arrest Prevention

HVI patient Tabby Baer | Cardiac Arrest Treatment Patient

The Challenge: Family History of Heart Problems

As a healthy, active 23-year-old, Tabby Baer wondered if a cardiologist would take her concerns seriously. While she had no history of heart problems herself, cardiac arrest had affected her family in more ways than one.

Cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops beating because of a problem with its electrical system.

Without a heartbeat, blood can’t flow to the rest of the body, leading to death within minutes.

In some cases, prompt treatment with an automated external defibrillator (AED) or CPR can reverse cardiac arrest, but it's often fatal.

In 2015, one of Tabby’s aunts survived sudden cardiac arrest. But nearly a year later, her father died from it.

Tabby knew she needed answers about her own risk.

The Path to UPMC: Cardiac Genetic Testing

Tabby came to the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. She met with Eric Dueweke, MD, a cardiologist, to talk about her family history and have genetic testing.

Both of her aunts tested positive for a rare genetic mutation — a change in their genes — that affects the heart’s electrical system.

Dr. Dueweke reviewed their medical histories and suggested the same test for Tabby. The results confirmed she had the same mutation and a higher risk for cardiac arrest.

While thinking through the options for Tabby’s treatment, Dr. Dueweke presented her case at the Heart and Vascular Institute’s Collaborative Care Conference.

This weekly meeting uses a secure teleconference system to connect cardiologists throughout UPMC. It allows them to discuss cases, review test results, and talk about patient care options in real time.

“This conference allows a new level of teamwork among cardiologists with different specialties and backgrounds. It's a great resource for all of us,” Dr. Dueweke said. “We debated several options for Tabby’s treatment and came up with a plan based on her history, needs, and lifestyle.”

The Solution: Loop Monitor Implant

Working closely with Sandeep Jain, MD, at the Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Passavant, Dr. Dueweke suggested a loop recorder. It would allow them to keep a close eye on Tabby’s heart activity.

A loop recorder is an implanted device that takes constant electrocardiograms (EKGs) to measure the heart’s electrical activity.

Each month, Tabby uploads her results to her care team for review.

If her results show certain changes in her heart's activity, Tabby’s team can take action. They can decide if she needs other treatments, like an implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD).

“It was so comforting to know that I had all these cardiologists working to find the best solution for me,” Tabby said.

She and her husband recently relocated to central Pennsylvania, where Tabby works as a speech language pathologist. She remains grateful for the care she received at UPMC.

Tabby urges others with a family history of heart disease to make sure they address their own risks.


Tabby's treatment and results may not be representative of similar cases.

Read more Heart Disease patient stories


Learn More About Cardiac Arrest Risks and Prevention

UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute:

  • Genetic Heart Disease Testing
  • Echocardiography

UPMC HealthBeat:

  • Heart Health and Family History
  • What is a Stress Test?
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login