What Makes St. Luke's Cedar Rapids' Heart Hospital?

St. Luke's treats more heart patients and performs more advanced heart procedures than any other hospital in Cedar Rapids. We are committed to offering the most complex, specialized cardiovascular care in Eastern Iowa, so you don't have to travel out of town for heart care. 

That commitment and the growing number of patients seeking heart care and needing St. Luke's unique expertise is why we are investing $25 million to expand our heart and vascular services. 

Experience matters. Know the facts when it comes to your heart care – more people choose St. Luke's because of our long legacy as Cedar Rapids' Heart Hospital.

Why Trust St. Luke's for Your Heart Care?

(Data updated 11/1/22)

Longer-Tenured Heart Care Program

St. Luke's: 44 years, Since June 1977
Mercy: 4 years, Started November 2017

Dedicated, Comprehensive Heart & Vascular Center

St. Luke's: Yes, Since 2000 (97,126 sq. ft. and growing!)
Mercy: No

More Heart Care Experts 

Number of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, ARNPs and PAs
St. Luke's: 30 (16 cardiologists)
Mercy: 25 (11 cardiologists) 

More Outreach Clinics

Providing care close to home
St. Luke's: 5 locations
(Anamosa, Independence, Manchester, Marengo, Vinton)
Mercy: 2 locations
(Vinton, Manchester) 

Treats the Most Heart Patients in Cedar Rapids*

St. Luke's: Treats 2 out of 3 patients seeking heart care in Cedar Rapids
Mercy: Treats 1 out of 3 patients 
*Source: Iowa Hospital Association

Top 50 Heart Hospital in America

Ranked by Truven Health Analytics/IBM Watson Health Company
St. Luke's: 6 times
Mercy: 2 times 

ER Chest Pain Center Accreditation

From the American College of Cardiology, based on rigorous on-site evaluation of the staff's ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack
St. Luke's: Yes
Mercy: No 

Platinum Performance Achievement Award for Heart Attack Treatment 

St. Luke's is one of only 240 hospitals in the country to receive the highest-level rating for quality and performance in treating heart attack patients as outlined by the American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) for Chest Pain - Myocardial Infarction (heart attack).
St. Luke's: Yes
Mercy: No 

Fastest-ever-recorded time from ER arrival to opening of blocked arteries 

St. Luke's: 13 minutes
Mercy: 26 minutes
St. Luke's average is 59 minutes 

More Advanced Procedures

First Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
Minimally invasive, catheter-based aortic valve replacement procedure that doesn't require open-heart surgery
St. Luke's: 2016
Mercy: 2018

Transcatheter Valve Certification
From the American College of Cardiology, for demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and repair procedures
St. Luke's: Yes (Only hospital in Iowa)
Mercy: No 

WATCHMAN for Afib
Device that acts as a barrier when inserted (via catheter) into the part of the heart where clots are most likely to form; alternative to open-heart surgery
St. Luke's: Yes
Mercy: No 

MitraClip for Mitral Valve Repair
Catheter-inserted device used to correct mitral regurgitation (a leaking mitral valve); no open-heart surgery required
St. Luke's: Yes
Mercy: No 

Shockwave Procedure to Open Blocked Arteries
State-of-the-art catheter procedure that uses sonic pressure waves to fracture calcified plaque and reopen blocked arteries
St. Luke's: Yes
Mercy: No