Cardiology

When you come to us for your heart and vascular care, you may work with our:

• Cardiologists
• Cardiovascular technicians
• Echocardiography technologists
• Other registered cardiac specialists and nurses

We provide many types of minimally invasive imaging tests to help us collect meaningful information about your heart and vascular system. This enables us to create a more personalized, effective treatment plan for you.

Some of our diagnostic heart tests include:

• Cardiac catheterization (cath)
• Echocardiography (echo), including transesophageal echo
• Ejection fraction measurement
• Electrocardiogram (ECG), including signal-averaging ECG
• Electrophysiology
• Heart monitoring, including Holter monitoring
• Nuclear cardiology testing
• Stress testing
• Tilt table test
• Vascular ultrasound

Advanced cardiac cath services

Our Cath and Echo/ECG Lab allows us to determine how well your heart is working, identify abnormalities and use innovative technology to open blocked arteries. Here, we use the latest imaging equipment and most advanced data collection systems.

Our lab also features cutting-edge, digital technology that allows us to quickly store, share and retrieve ECG information, anywhere and anytime we need it for you.

The Cath and Echo/ECG Lab is located on the first floor in the west section of the hospital, near our emergency department.

Our cardiac specialists offer a wide range of procedures and treatments, including:

• Angioplasty and stenting
• Bypass surgery
• Cardioversion
• Pacemaker generator change
• Heart valve surgery
• Implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) insertion
• Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)
• Minimally invasive heart surgery
• Open-heart surgery
• Pacemaker insertion, temporary and permanent
• Pericardiocentesis
• Peripheral intervention
• Stroke risk reduction procedures related to atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Open-heart surgery program

Open-heart surgery is performed on the heart muscle and the valves and arteries connected to the heart. We offer an open-heart surgery program to give our community access to high-quality cardiac care as close to home as possible.

We offer both inpatient (phase I) and outpatient (phase II) cardiac rehab programs. These are usually appropriate for you if you have been diagnosed with heart disease or have had another heart-related event or surgery. Major components of the program include physical activity, stress management, education and nutritional counseling.

What is included in cardiac rehab

During cardiac rehab, our licensed nurses monitor you while you exercise. We use an advanced system that alerts our team to any ECG changes during your exercise session, and it allows us to provide the appropriate intervention in the rare event that you need one.

Monitored exercise and physical therapy help you gain the confidence and strength you need to return to the activities you enjoy.

Benefits of cardiac rehab

Our cardiac rehab program offers many benefits, including:

• Assists you in recovery after a heart attack, open-heart surgery, angioplasty and other cardiac interventions
• Educates you about heart disease treatments and medications
• Educates you on how to recognize heart disease symptoms and when to seek treatment
• Reduces the potential for additional heart problems through risk factor modifications
• Strengthens your muscles and increases the efficiency of your heart and lungs

Admissions to our cardiac rehab program

If you are interested in our cardiac rehab program, please speak with your healthcare provider. Your doctor will either write you a prescription or will send us the order.

Once we receive your physician's order, we will schedule an evaluation appointment. During this typically 40-minute evaluation, we will assess your recovery and specific needs, answer any questions you and your family have and provide you with the details of our program.

After the evaluation, we will select your cardiac rehab start date and session time.

You will be scheduled for three times per week with attendance on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Your program will last 12 weeks, or 36 visits.