Cardiac care services
The Nasseff Heart Center of Heart United excels in cardiac care and services. Together
with our partner, the St. Paul Heart Clinic, we provide a full continuum of
care services.
Cardiovascular rehabilitation
Catheterization laboratory
Critical care
Echocardiography lab
Electrophysiology laboratory
Heart/lung telemetry care
Noninvasive cardiology
Pulmonary diagnostic laboratory
Stress testing lab
Cardiovascular rehabilitation
United Hospital’s cardiovascular rehabilitation program offers monitored rehabilitation exercise
in a dedicated unit on the third floor of the hospital. The staff, which includes
a nurse, occupational therapist and exercise physiologist, have expertise in
exercise prescription and electrocardiogram interpretation.
Patients can continue their rehabilitation in the rehab unit after they leave
the hospital, which makes it easier for patients to continue with their therapy
program.
Each year, more than 3,000 inpatients and outpatients utilize United’s rehabilitation
services including:
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Catheterization laboratory
At the catheterization lab, procedures like heart
catheterization, angiograms and intracoronary ultrasounds
are performed to get a more in-depth look at how your heart functions. The lab
uses the latest technology, providing improved imaging and faster, more accurate
results. The catheterization laboratory is available 24/7.
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Critical care units
Critical care — also called intensive care — refers to the special treatment
given to patients who have a serious illness or medical problem. United Hospital's
critical care units have state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained staff
to monitor and support these patients around the clock.
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Echocardiography lab
Echocardiograms
use ultrasound waves to look for any structural heart abnormalities. In
2002, the lab added a technologically advanced digital echocardiography system.
The benefits of digital echocardiography include:
- improved image quality
- viewing/reading capability in the intensive care unit
- improved reading efficiency
- standardized and faster reporting
- capability for remote reading
- no need for videotape
- reduced storage space
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Electrophysiology (EP) laboratory
Electrophysiology
studies help evaluate and treat the electrical activity of your heart. Both diagnostic
and therapeutic
services are conducted in the hospital.
In December 2003, a new biplane table and accompanying technology was put into
operation in the biplane lab at the Nasseff Heart Center. This new diagnostic
X-ray equipment is specifically designed for the diagnosis and treatment of
abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). The advanced technology uses two cameras
to let your cardiologist create 2- and 3-dimensional views of your heart. In
addition to greater image quality, the new equipment delivers half the radiation
dose than did the previous biplane table, thus improving patient, and practitioner,
safety while improving accuracy.
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Heart/lung telemetry care
Four telemetry units at the Nasseff Heart Center provide skilled specialized
nursing care to patients with cardiovascular, pulmonary and surgical needs.
Care components include patient education, rehabilitation and frequent assessments
and treatments. We provide a diverse range of services including telemetry monitoring
with arrhythmia analysis, care of patients requiring chronic ventilator support
as well as close observation of potential complications based on complex diagnoses.
When a patient presents with multiple diagnoses requiring special services that
may not be available on these units, their needs are evaluated by their physician
and the nursing staff. The patient is placed based on their more acute need
and special services are brought to the bedside as required. Additional support
services are provided to patients as needs are identified. These additional
services include but are not limited to cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation,
social services, chaplaincy,
occupational/physical/speech rehabilitation,
nutrition services and home care. The age range of patients seen is 14 years
to 100+ years.
All nursing personnel assigned to these units have additional education in the
care of these patients. Nurses are certified in basic life support and advanced
cardiac life support by the American
Heart Association/American
Red Cross and are educated in cardiac rhythm recognition.
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Noninvasive cardiology
The noninvasive cardiology department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a
week providing services to inpatients and outpatients.
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Pulmonary diagnostic laboratory
The goal of the pulmonary diagnostic lab is to provide diagnostic
services to patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. Diagnostic services
are available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Staff are credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
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Stress testing lab
Through the use of a treadmill, bicycle or upper body ergometer, staff in the
stress testing laboratory study your heart functions under increased activity.
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