Cardiology patients at Verde Valley Medical Center now have access to the most sophisticated cardiac catheterization laboratory equipment available with addition of the GE Innova 3100IQ system. The functionality of the new system allows cardiologists and vascular surgeons to diagnose and treat cardiovascular patients who have a wide range of conditions through minimally invasive procedures that result in reduced procedure times, less radiation and decreased recovery times.

Many patients have both coronary and vascular conditions, which can now be more accurately and efficiently diagnosed – and in some cases even treated – during a single procedure. This eliminates the stress and inconvenience of having to undergo multiple procedures.

“Since opening the diagnostic cath lab in 1999 and the interventional cath lab in 2001, VVMC has been dedicated to providing state-of-the-art cardiovascular services to our patients,” said Bruce Peek, M.D., interventional cardiologist, VVMC Cardiac Catheterization Lab medical director. “This new system allows us to continue providing the most innovative, patient-friendly diagnostic and interventional cardiac cath procedures available.”

The all-digital cardiovascular and interventional imaging system allows physicians to more clearly see the blood vessels and anatomy of the heart, as well as blood vessels throughout the entire body – even small, fine vessels all the way to the fingertips. The images are so detailed that physician’s are able to see clearly enough to safely maneuver the smallest medical devices – such as catheters, stents, and guidewires – during balloon angioplasties, vascular interventions and other clinical procedures. The system provides exceptional image quality utilizing high-contrast, high-resolution views on an extra-large, flat-screen monitor that offers up to four different images at one time. The large, circular X-ray platform rotates 20 degrees in just one second, reducing radiation exposure.

“These minimally invasive procedures reduce risk, lessen pain and stress, and shorten recovery times,” Dr. Peek said. “This new system expands VVMC’s capabilities to provide a greater range of image-guided, minimally invasive treatment options that offer patients advantages over traditional surgery.”

VVMC has provided diagnostic cardiac catheterization services since 1999. It began its interventional program in 2001. The catheterization lab team consists of board-certified cardiologists, specialty trained nurses and cardiac imaging technicians. VVMC’s cardiology program is part of the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona.

The Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona (HVCNA) is a partnership between Verde Valley Medical Center and Flagstaff Medical Center. It combines physician office practices with extensive hospital-based services including diagnostic and interventional cardiology procedures and open heart surgery. HVCNA offices are located in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Camp Verde, Sedona and Winslow.
For more information on the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona, visit NAHeartCare.com. To make an appointment with one of the world-class cardiologists at the Heart & Vascular Center, call 877 928-WELL.

VVMC’s interventional cardiac catheterization program marks 10 years of providing life-saving heart care

Verde Valley Medical Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Program is celebrating 10 years of providing state-of-the-art, comprehensive interventional cardiac catheterization care. Since 2001, local board-certified cardiologists and specialty trained staff have been performing life-saving diagnostic and interventional cardiovascular procedures in VVMC’s technologically advanced Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab).

"Achieving this milestone is truly wonderful,” said James Dwyer, M.D., interventional cardiologist. Dr. Dwyer spearheaded the efforts to build and establish VVMC’s Cath Lab and Interventional Cardiology Services. “When we started the coronary interventional program at VVMC, we had no idea of the spectacular health benefits it would provide to the local community and numerous visitors to the area. The excellence of our program, verifiable by a national database, is a direct result of the commitment to quality and the dedicated efforts of VVMC administration and staff, and the experienced cardiologists and medical staff which joined forces to build the program."

Diagnostic and interventional coronary and peripheral arterial procedures are performed in VVMC’s Cath Lab. Since 1999, VVMC has been performing diagnostic procedures to assess and diagnose patients for cardiovascular disease. The hospital performed its first interventional procedure in March 2001.

Interventional procedures deal specifically with the catheter-based treatment of structural heart diseases. A large number of procedures can be performed in the heart and vascular (veins and arteries) system through minimally invasive procedures performed in a cath lab. These minimally invasive procedures, such as balloon angioplasty, stent placement and aneurysm repairs, involve the insertion of a catheter (hollow tube) into the femoral artery in the upper leg or the radial artery near the wrist. The catheter is guided toward the heart or vascular area through the use of real-time X-ray.

“These minimally invasive procedures reduce risk, lessen pain and stress, and shorten recovery times Dr. Dwyer said. “And during a cardiac emergency, our physicians, specialty trained staff and local EMS personnel work together to get the patient into the Cath Lab as soon as possible.”

When a heart attack is identified by EMS personnel prior to hospital arrival, the patient can be taken directly to the Cath Lab for emergency intervention, decreasing the door-to-procedure time. The quicker the heart attack artery is unclogged, the more heart muscle is saved.

VVMC’s cardiology program is part of the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona. The Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona (HVCNA) is a partnership between Verde Valley Medical Center and Flagstaff Medical Center. It combines physician office practices with extensive hospital-based services including diagnostic and interventional cardiology procedures and open heart surgery. HVCNA offices are located in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Camp Verde, Sedona and Winslow.

For more information on the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona, visit NAHeartCare.com. To make an appointment with one of the world-class cardiologists at the Heart & Vascular Center, call 877 928-WELL.