Elk Regional offers a full range of cardiology services. To read about the services we offer, please use the links below.
Cardiac rehabilitation - Cardiac catheterization - Echocardiography - Electrocardiograms - Holter Monitors - Stress Tests - Other Services
Cardiac Rehabilitation:
At our Ridgway campus, we offer cardiac rehabilitation, a comprehensive program for heart health. This program involves health education and exercise training to help build a heart-healthy lifestyle and strengthen the heart. Our cardiac rehabilitation program is specifically designed for recovering cardiac patients such as, heart attacks, stent placement, heart or valve surgery or patients with angina pectoris.
In order to join, all that is needed is a qualifying diagnosis and order from a physician. Patients will be scheduled for three monitored outpatient visits a week. This program usually lasts six to twelve weeks but varies by insurance coverage.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation department is located at Elk Regional’s Ridgway campus.
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Cardiac Catheterization:
Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic procedure in which a long thin tube called a catheter is placed in a blood vessel and then guided to the heart. The catheter may be inserted into either arteries or veins in either an arm or leg. A dye is then injected through the catheter to determine whether narrowing or blockages are present in the coronary (heart) arteries, and to measure precisely how well the heart valves and heart muscle function.
In October 2004, Elk Regional Health Center opened the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the St. Marys campus. A multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses and technologists perform diagnostic examinations in and around people’s hearts while maintaining maximal patient safety and comfort. The staff at Elk Regional’s Cath Lab includes a competent team of Registered Nurses and Cardiovascular Technologists who are all trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
Elk Regional’s Cardiac Cath Lab performs low-risk diagnostic cardiac catheterizations of the arterial system, visualization of grafts, heart vessels, chambers and valves. Elk Regional is proud to be one of the first hospitals in the country to use a 9900 GE portable x-ray c-arm that has a cardiac package included on it. This piece of equipment equipment allows Elk Regional to provide high quality, optimal images that allow a physician to visualize the anatomy of the heart with pinpoint accuracy.
For more information, please call (814) 788-8534.
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Echocardiography:
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart, used to see if a problem exists with the valves of the heart and if damage exists to the wall muscle of the heart. During this simple procedure, the patient lies on a bed while a technician applies a cool gel to the area and moves a hand-held probe over the heart.
Elk Regional’s Echocardiography Department is located in the Radiology Department on the St. Marys campus. A registered echocardiography technologist oversees the department, backed by a friendly and competent staff.
If a patient is participating in the Cardiology Clinic and the patient’s doctor feels an echocardiogram is necessary, our Echocardiography Department can normally accommodate this on the same visit.
The Department is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. For an appointment, call 814-788-8844. To talk to a technician in regards to questions or concerns, call 814-788-8347.
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Electrocardiograms:
An electrocardiogram, commonly known as an EKG or ECG, is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of the heart. This test translates the heart’s electrical activity into line tracings on paper. The spikes and dips in the line tracings are called waves, which are interpreted by a physician.
Patients who have an EKG at Elk Regional should be sure to tell their doctor about all nonprescription and prescription drugs currently being taken. Many medications may change the results of this test. If you are taking heart medications, your doctor will tell you how to take them before having this test.
During the test, electrodes, or stickers, will be placed on your arms, legs, and across your chest. Be sure to wear loose clothing for this test, and avoid wearing stockings. Also, be sure to remove any jewelry from your neck, arms and wrists.
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Holter Monitors:
A holter monitor is a device for continuously monitoring the electrical activity of the heart for 24 hours or more. Its extended recording period is useful for observing cardiac conditions that would be difficult to identify in a shorter period of time.
When a patient receives a holter monitor, four electrodes with wires attached to them will be placed on the patient’s chest. The wires are connected to a small monitor that is held in a pouch tied around the patient’s chest. Patients should bring a list of medications with them.
Our cardiologists also ask that patients receiving a holter monitor keep a diary of activities, such when a patient goes to sleep and wakes up as well as any symptoms and the time they occurred. This information is used by physicians and technicians to rapidly pinpoint any problem areas in the vast amount of data recorded during the monitoring period.
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Stress Tests:
Stress tests of the heart are performed in Elk Regional’s Nuclear Medicine Department, which is fully accredited by the American College of Radiology.
During a stress test, the patient will be asked to walk on a treadmill while the heart is monitored. The patient then lies on a table so the heart can be monitored while the patient is at rest. If a patient is unable to walk on the treadmill, a doctor will decide whether to use medication instead.
We can often accommodate the patient with an echocardiogram scheduled on the same day if requested by a doctor.
Our Nuclear Medicine Department is located in the Radiology Department on the St. Marys campus of Elk Regional Health Center. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 5:00pm. To schedule a nuclear medicine test ordered by a physician, call (814) 788-8844. To talk with a technologist with questions and concerns, call (814) 788-8337.
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Other Services:
Our cardiologists work with qualified surgeons at Elk Regional to insert cardiac pacemakers.
Elk Regional’s respiratory therapy department provides 24-hour care over a wide variety of services including ventilator and bipap patient management, incentive spirometry, EKGs, pulmonary function testing, arterial blood gas sampling, CPR and patient transport.
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