Gongestive Heart Failure Care in the Capital Region
Fewer hospitalizations. Fewer symptoms. More of the life you know.
Your heart deserves expert, attentive care.
At Capital Cardiology Associates, our physicians bring advanced training and years of experience to every patient we see, combining the latest in cardiovascular medicine with the kind of personal attention that makes people feel genuinely cared for.
We treat the full range of heart and vascular conditions, from high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms to coronary artery disease, heart failure, and more. Whether you are managing an ongoing condition, recovering from an event, or simply want to understand your risk and protect your health, our team is here to guide you at every step.
Serving the Capital Region for years, we have built our practice on a simple idea. Great cardiac care starts with listening. We take the time to understand your health, your history, and your goals, then work with you on a plan that fits your life. From diagnostic testing and imaging to long-term treatment and prevention, we bring the resources of a leading cardiology practice together with the comfort of a team that knows you by name.
Your heart is in good hands here. Schedule an appointment today and take the next step toward better heart health.
Better heart health starts with a single conversation. Ask your provider or contact 518.292.6000 to learn more.
Congestive Heart Failure Care in the Capital Region
What Congestive Heart Failure Actually Means
The name sounds worse than it is. Heart failure does not mean your heart has stopped, and it does not mean it is about to. It means the heart is not pumping as well as it should.
A healthy heart pushes blood out to the rest of the body with each beat. In heart failure, the heart muscle either becomes too weak to squeeze with full force, or too stiff to fill completely between beats. Either way, less blood moves forward than the body needs.
When blood does not move forward efficiently, it backs up. Fluid collects in the lungs, the legs, the ankles, and the abdomen. That backup is the "congestive" part of the name. It is also the reason most people first notice something is wrong.
What Causes It
Heart failure is usually the result of another condition that has strained the heart over time. The most common causes include:
Coronary artery disease and prior heart attack
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Heart valve disease
Abnormal heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation
Diseases of the heart muscle itself, known as cardiomyopathy
Many patients have more than one. Managing the underlying cause is part of managing the heart failure.
Symptoms to Watch For
Heart failure symptoms tend to develop gradually, which is why they are easy to dismiss. Common signs include:
Shortness of breath during activity, or when lying flat
Swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs
Fatigue that does not improve with rest
Rapid weight gain over a few days
Persistent cough or wheezing
Difficulty sleeping without extra pillows
Reduced ability to do things that used to be easy
Sudden weight gain over a short period usually means the body is holding fluid. It is one of the earliest warning signs, and it is one of the reasons daily weight checks matter. Your care team will tell you what change in weight should prompt a call.
Heart Failure Is Manageable
This is the part patients often do not hear clearly enough. Heart failure is a chronic condition, not a verdict. With the right treatment and consistent follow-up, most patients live full, active lives. Modern medications can improve heart function, ease symptoms, and reduce hospital stays. Many patients feel meaningfully better once their treatment is properly adjusted.
What makes the difference is close, ongoing attention. That is what the clinic is built for.
How the Capital Cardiology Congestive Heart Failure Clinic Helps
Our Congestive Heart Failure Clinic is a dedicated program for patients living with heart failure. Instead of routine visits spaced months apart, patients receive focused, coordinated care from a team that knows their history.
Medication management. Heart failure medications work best when they are adjusted carefully over time to reach the right dose for each patient. Our team handles this titration step by step, monitoring how you respond and making changes as needed.
Close symptom monitoring. Small changes are easier to correct than large ones. The clinic tracks weight, fluid status, blood pressure, and symptoms so problems get caught early, before they turn into an emergency room visit.
Education you can use. Patients and families learn what to track at home, how sodium and fluid intake affect symptoms, what level of activity is appropriate, and which warning signs require a phone call.
Coordinated care. The clinic team works alongside your cardiologist, your primary care provider, and other specialists so that everyone is working from the same plan.
The goal is straightforward. Fewer hospitalizations. Fewer symptoms. More of your ordinary life.
Getting Started
If you or someone you love is living with heart failure, the Congestive Heart Failure Clinic at Capital Cardiology Associates can help.
Client Reviews
“Dr Pashkovetsky is great, he explained everything that was going on with my blood pressure. He had to change my medicine a few times until he found the right one for me. Now my blood pressure is under control. When I had my nuclear stress test, he called me himself a half hour after my test to let me know everything was good. All the staff are wonderful and very helpful. Thank you. “
— Tammy P.
“Dr Pashkovetsky is what I call an excellent physician. He is kind, compassionate and I felt cared about- that’s unfortunately not the norm these days. Dr. Pashkovetsky has an A++rating. “
— Michael D.
“Dr Pashkovetsky is a doctor that listen to his patient and communicate resolution at the level that patient can understand exactly what has to be done for complete resolution”
— Amanda H.
The Capital Cardiology
Congestive Heart Failure Team
Dr. Eugene Pashkovetsky
Cardiologist Dr. Eugene Pashkovetsky graduated Cum Laude from SUNY Stony Brook with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, earning Dean's List honors and induction into Phi Beta Kappa. He received his medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, where he also taught Microbiology.
He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Northwell Health's Lenox Hill Hospital, a Cardiovascular Disease fellowship at Albany Medical Center, and advanced training in Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology at Westchester Medical Center. He joined Capital Cardiology Associates in 2019 and is a member of the American College of Physicians.
Dr. Erin Tersegno, PharmD
Erin Tersegno, PharmD was born and raised in Rochester, NY before earning her PharmD from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Erin decided to pursue a career in pharmacy and post-graduate training due to her desire to provide the highest quality of patient-centered care. Dr. Tersegno completed two years of post-graduate training: one year as an Inpatient Pharmacy Practice Resident at Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island, NY, and a second year of cardiology specialty residency, which she completed in conjunction with CCA and Albany College of Pharmacy. She has conducted formal research on the use of intravenous pentamidine for pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis as well as a pharmacist-led intervention to optimize utilization of SGLT-2 inhibitors for those with heart failure.
Clinical Pharmacist 
Ashleigh Berger, MSN, FNP-BC
Ashleigh Berger, MSN, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner Ashleigh Berger, FNP is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience caring for patients with complex medical conditions. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Russell Sage College and her Master of Science in Nursing from Sage Graduate School, and also holds a master's degree in Health Psychology from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
Her clinical background spans critical care, trauma, pain management, urology, geriatrics, and palliative care, shaping a holistic, patient-centered approach. Ashleigh partners with patients and their families to provide education, support, and personalized care plans built around each person's goals. Her clinical interests include heart failure, cardiovascular disease prevention, palliative care, and chronic disease management. She is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the New York State Nurse Practitioner Association, and the New York State Nurses Association.