What if a doctor tells you there is nothing more they can do to fix your heart blockages, and you've run out of options? In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips introduce you to EECP (Enhanced External Counterpulsation)—a powerful, non-invasive "Hail Mary" technology that has been saving cardiac patients for decades but remains drastically underutilized in mainstream medicine. 

In this deep-dive discussion, the team is joined by world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Richard Brown (consultant for Flow Therapy and former head of Johnson & Johnson's Save Legs, Change Lives program) and Jack Clifford, a cardiovascular patient and advocate who famously refused bypass surgery and used EECP to get back to running marathons. 🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss: 


What is EECP? A complete breakdown of how this therapy uses synchronized pneumatic cuffs on your calves, thighs, and hips to act as a "passive exercise" pump for your heart.


The Mechanism of Action: How inflating during diastole (heart resting) pushes blood back up to the coronary arteries, and deflating during systole (heart pumping) creates a vacuum that reduces the heart's workload.


The Cellular Benefits: Why high-velocity blood flow triggers shear stress, stimulating endothelial cells to produce blood-vessel-dilating nitric oxide while reducing vessel-constricting endothelin-1.


Advanced Cardiac Applications: Why EECP isn't just for epicardial blockages, but is a proven therapy for microvascular disease, improving ejection fraction, and reversing severe heart failure symptoms.


Reimbursement & Controversy: The strict 2026 reality of Medicare coverage (restricted to Class 3 & 4 angina not amenable to further revascularization) and why many hospitals abandoned their EECP beds.


The Amazon Warning: A crucial distinction explaining why over-the-counter compression sleeves or Normatec pants cannot replicate gated, medical-grade EECP therapy. 🌐 Resource Section & Links 🩺 Cardiovascular & EECP Resources: 


Find an EECP Center Near You: eecplocator.com


Jack Clifford's Patient Journey & Book: eecpbook.com


Explore Flow Therapy Centers (Dr. Brown): flowtherapy.com


Subscribe to The Way to My Heart: youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart 🩸 Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Resources: 


Global PAD Association Help Hotline: If you suffer from leg pain, leg cramps, neuropathy, or can no longer walk as far as you used to due to "old age," it could be poor circulation from Peripheral Artery Disease. Call the LegSaver hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347).


PAD Educational Resources: Learn more about leg circulation and get help at padhelp.org.

What if a doctor tells you there is nothing more they can do to fix your heart blockages, and you've run out of options? In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, hosts Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips introduce you to EECP (Enhanced External Counterpulsation)—a powerful, non-invasive "Hail Mary" technology that has been saving cardiac patients for decades but remains drastically underutilized in mainstream medicine. In this deep-dive discussion, the team is joined by world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Richard Brown (consultant for Flow Therapy and former head of Johnson & Johnson's Save Legs, Change Lives program) and Jack Clifford, a cardiovascular patient and advocate who famously refused bypass surgery and used EECP to get back to running marathons. 🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss: <ul> <li> What is EECP? A complete breakdown of how this therapy uses synchronized pneumatic cuffs on your calves, thighs, and hips to act as a "passive exercise" pump for your heart. </li> <li> The Mechanism of Action: How inflating during diastole (heart resting) pushes blood back up to the coronary arteries, and deflating during systole (heart pumping) creates a vacuum that reduces the heart's workload. </li> <li> The Cellular Benefits: Why high-velocity blood flow triggers shear stress, stimulating endothelial cells to produce blood-vessel-dilating nitric oxide while reducing vessel-constricting endothelin-1. </li> <li> Advanced Cardiac Applications: Why EECP isn't just for epicardial blockages, but is a proven therapy for microvascular disease, improving ejection fraction, and reversing severe heart failure symptoms. </li> <li> Reimbursement & Controversy: The strict 2026 reality of Medicare coverage (restricted to Class 3 & 4 angina not amenable to further revascularization) and why many hospitals abandoned their EECP beds. </li> <li> The Amazon Warning: A crucial distinction explaining why over-the-counter compression sleeves or Normatec pants cannot replicate gated, medical-grade EECP therapy. </li> </ul> 🌐 Resource Section & Links 🩺 Cardiovascular & EECP Resources: <ul> <li> Find an EECP Center Near You: <a class="x_gmail-ng-star-inserted" title="https://eecplocator.com" href="https://eecplocator.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="5">eecplocator.com</a> </li> <li> Jack Clifford's Patient Journey & Book: <a class="x_gmail-ng-star-inserted" title="https://eecpbook.com" href="https://eecpbook.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="6">eecpbook.com</a> </li> <li> Explore Flow Therapy Centers (Dr. Brown): <a class="x_gmail-ng-star-inserted" title="https://flowtherapy.com" href="https://flowtherapy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="7">flowtherapy.com</a> </li> <li> Subscribe to The Way to My Heart: <a class="x_gmail-ng-star-inserted" title="https://www.youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart" href="https://www.youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="8">youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart</a> </li> </ul> 🩸 Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Resources: <ul> <li> Global PAD Association Help Hotline: If you suffer from leg pain, leg cramps, neuropathy, or can no longer walk as far as you used to due to "old age," it could be poor circulation from Peripheral Artery Disease. Call the LegSaver hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347). </li> <li> PAD Educational Resources: Learn more about leg circulation and get help at <a class="x_gmail-ng-star-inserted" title="https://padhelp.org" href="https://padhelp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="9">padhelp.org</a>. </li> </ul>

All of us have the power to create change. The advances in technology are now such that if you have an idea, it’s easier than ever to execute on it. “Kym McNicholas On Innovation” shares the journeys of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors from around the world who will inspire you to create your own financial independence. The show also features some of the most advanced technologies you’ve never heard of that could be have an impact on your life, your business, and your career. 

Regular featured segments include “The Edge” which highlights businesses that are game-changing in the enterprise. Plus, each week in “HealthTech”, you’ll hear about a company that’s creating better, safer, faster, and cheaper technologies that will improve patient care and lower costs. And in our “Female Seeking Startup” series hear the success stories of some of the most powerful women who are creating game-changing technologies.

Produced and Published by The Innovators Network (http://TheInnovators.Network)

The Heart of Innovation with Kym McNicholas

The Heart of Innovation is 60 minutes with life and limb saving potential. Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Patient Navigator Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips discuss new exciting ideas and innovation in healthcare. They tackle some of the greatest barriers to timely, effective patient care and discuss solutions with physicians, clinicians, policy makers, and most importantly, patients.

The Heart of Innovation is 60 minutes with life and limb saving potential. Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Patient Navigator Kym McNicholas and Interventional Cardiologist Dr. John Phillips discuss new exciting ideas and innovation in healthcare. They tackle some of the greatest barriers to timely, effective patient care and discuss solutions with physicians, clinicians, policy makers, and most importantly, patients.