Cardiology

We use a variety of screening and imaging methods to help diagnose and prevent coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes and other cardiac conditions.

Cardiac catheterization

This is the most advanced procedure for evaluating your heart's health. A catheter is passed through a large blood vessel to your heart so your physician can see the flow of blood and pinpoint blockages or potential problems. We offer radial angiography, one of the most advanced forms of cardiac catheterizations for releasing blocked arteries.

Electrocardiograms (EKGs)

Within minutes, EKGs can show evidence of a previous heart attack, decreased oxygen, an arrhythmia and other symptoms of endangered heart health. During the exam, small sticky electrodes are applied to your body and connected to an EKG machine to record your heart's electrical impulses.

Pulmonary function testing

By having you breathe into different devices, technologists can measure your lungs' capacities and how well they absorb oxygen into the bloodstream. This test is used to assess a medication's effectiveness, measure your progress and diagnose breathing problems, such as asthma or emphysema.

Stress testing

Electrodes measure changes in heart rate, blood pressure and heart rhythm, often while you're on a treadmill or stationary bike. The results are used to diagnose heart disease and help prevent heart attacks.

When someone you love is having a heart attack, time is everything. The faster you get the right care, the greater the chance of survival.

We partner with local emergency services and their ambulance teams to help diagnose and monitor victims of coronary artery blockages before they arrive at our hospital. Once there, our cardiovascular laboratory provides advanced procedures, such as:

• Angioplasty — Balloon angioplasty uses catheterization to insert and inflate a miniature balloon that reopens arteries and gets blood flowing again.
• Radial angiography — Your cardiologist uses a catheter to access the heart through the wrist instead of the groin, giving you greater post-surgery mobility.
• Stent implantation — Small scaffolds, or stents, are inserted during angioplasty to permanently support blocked or collapsed arteries.

ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) network

STEMI is the most dangerous type of heart attack caused by sudden blockage of an artery supplying vital nutrients to the heart. Without blood flow, virtually all of the heart muscle supplied by the affected artery begins to die. The STEMI network at our hospital greatly reduces the amount of time from diagnosis to treatment.

We provide minimally invasive procedures and alternative therapies for individuals diagnosed with heart conditions or recovering from a cardiac event. Our services include:

• Oxygen therapy — Administered in a number of ways, including personal oxygen tanks and hyperbaric oxygen chambers, this treatment is used to help your body tissues and cells function properly.
• Pacemaker insertion — Used to help control abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, pacemakers use small electrical pulses to prompt normal heart rates. Newer devices also monitor factors such as blood temperature and breathing rate to accommodate for changes in activities.
• Peripheral vascular diagnostics and treatment — Used to uncover PAD, which occurs when arteries supplying blood to your feet and legs narrow or harden. Based on severity, your treatment options may include self-care, angioplasty or stent implantation.