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Cleveland Clinic Keeps Train Engineer’s Heart on Track
Calvin Bowen has been happily driving trains for 38 years. But when his heart started beating irregularly, it almost derailed his career as an engineer with CSX Corporation.

“I was feeling weak and fatigued,” says the 65-year-old resident of St. Alban’s, WV. “You can’t drive a train very well when you’re half asleep. It took me a while to figure out what was wrong – that it was my heart.”

Bowen had developed atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that more commonly occurs as people get older. During atrial fibrillation, the heart beats chaotically and irregularly. This leads to poor blood flow to the body and causes heart palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness. The condition also increases a person’s risk of developing blood clots that may lead to stroke.

Under the guidance of his cardiologist near his hometown, Bowen underwent electrical cardioversion, a procedure that uses an electric current to try to reset the heart’s rhythm back to its regular pattern. Unfortunately, the procedure failed to correct Bowen’s erratic heartbeat.

“When the electrical cardioversion didn’t work, my cardiologist suggested I go to the Cleveland Clinic,” Bowen says. “He told me they have a whole wing of the hospital devoted just to atrial fibrillation. I figured why not go to a place where they deal with this everyday?”

At 265 miles away, it is a four-and-a-half-hour trip for Bowen to get from his home to the Cleveland Clinic. Yet, this would not deter him from seeking top-notch care. So he called the Clinic to discuss his problem. To his surprise, they suggested that he use an online program from Cleveland Clinic called MyConsult. “They charge a fee to use the service, but it was a lot cheaper than traveling to Cleveland,” says Bowen. “So I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did.”

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