Heart, Vascular and Chest Pain Center

Our comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to provide patients with the advantages of cardiac fitness and a new beginning for a healthier lifestyle. The program emphasizes education and monitored progressive exercise by the cardiac rehabilitation team.

We have a team of specialists dedicated to helping prevent, treat and even reverse symptoms of coronary artery disease. Take comfort in knowing that we are leveraging the most innovative technology to diagnose and treat symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors

You can take control and break lifelong habits by knowing the risk factors you can change.

• Alcohol
• Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Diet and nutrition
• Ethnicity
• Excess body weight
• Gender
• High blood pressure
• Increasing age
• Physical inactivity
• Stress
• Tobacco use

Our Code STEMI team is readily available to treat cardiac emergencies. Treatment begins as soon as EMS personnel alert the team that a patient is en route. The Code STEMI team will coordinate with local EMS to complete an assessment before the patient arrives at the emergency room.

You can count on our surgical teams to provide exceptional surgical care with fewer risks and less hospital time. Our cardiothoracic surgeons specialize in complex cardiac and vascular procedures including:

• Open-heart surgery
• Lung surgery
• Carotid artery surgery and revascularization

Minimally Invasive Procedures

Minimally invasive procedures include medical robotics and thoracoscopic tools, allowing surgeons to operate more efficiently and precisely. Robotic-assisted surgery can lead to:

• Fewer complications
• Less blood loss
• Less need for pain medicine
• Lower risk of life-threatening infections
• Shorter hospital stays
• Smaller incisions with minimal scarring

Vascular disease refers to various conditions impacting blood flow through your vessels. Restriction of flow impacts how blood and oxygen are pumped to essential organs such as the heart, brain and lungs. Your body relies on a complex network of arteries and veins to function normally. When a problem occurs within the system, our team is here to help you get the treatment you need.

Our team can provide care for various types of vascular disease, including:

• Venous diseases
• Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Aneurysmal Disease
• Carotid Artery Disease

We offer treatment options based on your individual needs, including:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
• Arterial bypass
• Endarterectomy
• Endovascular therapy
• Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR)
• Varicose and spider vein therapy

When you’re experiencing symptoms of a cardiac event, every minute matters. That’s why our team of emergency physicians and interventional cardiologists is equipped with specialized training and the latest technologies, ensuring we are readily available when you need us. Our onsite Code STEMI team and catheterization lab staff are here to respond quickly with innovative and award-winning care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Interventional Cardiology Procedures

• Carotid angioplasty: If you have a blocked or narrow carotid artery, angioplasty is a minimally invasive technique that will increase blood flow, treating your condition while allowing for a faster recovery and less pain. A catheter is gently inserted and guided to the blockage. A balloon at the end of the catheter will then be inflated to flatten the plaque or widen the artery opening. In some cases, a stent may be placed to keep the artery open.
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): PCI can be performed if your coronary artery is blocked or you have coronary artery disease. This catheter-based procedure widens the vessel, sometimes using stents to keep it open after the procedure. If you have had a myocardial infarction or unstable angina, PCI may reduce your risk of future incidents.

We have a dedicated electrophysiology lab to meet your heart arrhythmia care needs. From EKGs to ICDs, pacemakers and ablations, our lab combines advanced technology, treatments and healing methods to help your heart stay in rhythm.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Types:

• Paroxysmal AFib: Short episodes of AFib where the irregular heartbeat resolves on its own within seven days of starting.
• Persistent AFib: AFib that lasts longer than seven days, does not resolve on its own, and requires treatment to heal.
• Longstanding AFib: AFib that lasts longer than one year and needs treatment to heal.
• Permanent AFib: AFib that continues indefinitely without treatment.
• Nonvalvular AFib: AFib that’s unrelated to heart valve problems.

Regardless of the type, atrial fibrillation will require treatment. Irregular heartbeats disrupt blood flow and increase the risk of stroke. It is key for you and your Electrophysiologist to understand what’s causing an irregular heartbeat. Our skilled team will help get you answers and treatment.

Once we have understood your symptoms, identified your risk factors and reviewed your medical history, you and your care team will work collaboratively to decide on a care plan that meets your needs. We use diagnostic tests and exams to help pinpoint your diagnosis, including:

• Cardiac catheterization
• Coronary and peripheral angiography (CT and MR)
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Exercise stress test
• Nuclear cardiology
• Peripheral vascular testing

Take a few minutes to complete our health risk assessment to discover your potential risk level.