Cardiology

Accurately determining the cause of a cardiovascular condition is the first step to creating the right treatment plan for your condition. Some of the cardiac screening and imaging tests we offer include:

• Cardiac stress tests
• Echocardiograms
• Electrocardiograms (EKGs)
• Lung nodule screenings
• Nuclear imaging

Interventional cardiologists typically use catheters – a long, thin tube – to diagnose and treat various conditions. These procedures are often done in a cardiac catheterization (cath) lab and can be performed using minimally invasive techniques instead of a more traditional surgical approach.
Some of the interventional procedures available include:

• Angioplasty
• Atherectomy
• Cardiac stenting
• Intravascular ultrasound
• Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC)
• Pericardiocentesis
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR)

Electrophysiology (EP) is a subspecialty of cardiology focused on the heart's electrical activity. Our electrophysiologists use EP studies to identify what's causing an irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia. Common types of arrhythmia are:

• Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Supraventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular tachycardia

Treatment for heart arrhythmia can often be done through noninvasive or minimally invasive procedures such as cardioversion, ablation or pacemaker insertion.

When surgery is required to treat your conditions, our heart and vascular surgeons combine experience with state-of-the-art technology to deliver expert cardiovascular surgical care. Some of the procedures our surgeons perform include:

• Aortic valve replacement
• Atrial fibrillation ablation
• Congenital cardiac surgery
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
• Coronary revascularization
• Heart transplant
• Percutaneous valve surgery
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm procedures
• Valve replacement and repair
• Vascular and endovascular surgery
• Ventricular fibrillation implant

When a condition affects both the heart and lungs, our cardiac, vascular and thoracic specialists work together to develop the most effective treatment plan. We offer a range of diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical cardiopulmonary services, including:

• Lung nodule detection
• Robotic bronchoscopy
• Lobectomy
• Thoracotomy
• Wedge resection

Following a cardiac-related event or surgery, or to help manage a chronic heart condition, your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation to improve the strength of your heart. Our cardiac rehab program is led by experienced therapists who will provide lifestyle education, medical evaluations and physical exercise to help you meet your goals.

More physicians in Florida recommend cardiologists in the HCA Florida Healthcare network than any other Florida health system. This is a sign of our dedication to you and your family, and our ability to uphold and surpass high standards of care across all of our cardiology programs. This includes achieving the highest standards of clinical performance, with nearly 200 annual recognitions for cardiovascular care from Healthgrades.

HCA Florida Healthcare physicians perform more than 115,000 cardiovascular-related procedures every year and are currently participating in approximately 30 cardiovascular clinical trials. Our skilled team stays current with the latest technology and minimally invasive techniques to use during cardiovascular procedures, resulting in shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times.

Our healthcare network offers access to teams of collaborative providers representing multiple specialties, ensuring you and your family receive seamless care whenever you need it. Some key physician types within our cardiology program include:

• Cardiologists
• Cardiothoracic surgeons
• Cardiovascular surgeons
• Pulmonologists
• Vascular specialists