Heart & Vascular Care

(Updated: 7/15/26)

Longer-Tenured Heart Care Program

St. Luke's: 48 years (since 1978)
Mercy: 9 years (since 2017)

Dedicated, Comprehensive Heart & Vascular Center

St. Luke's: Yes, Since 2000
Mercy: Yes, as of 2023

More Heart & Vascular Experts

Number of cardiologists, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons, DNPs, ARNPs and PAs.
St. Luke's: 32 (18 physicians)
Mercy: 25 (10 physicians)

Top 50 Heart Hospital in America

Ranked by PINC AI (formerly Truven Health Analytics/IBM Watson)
St. Luke's: 6 times
Mercy: 3 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 (St. Luke's average is 59 minutes; national benchmark is 90 minutes)
Mercy: 26 minutes

Leaders in 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

• 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

• Lead Extraction
  Complex surgical procedure to remove wires from devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

St. Luke's: Yes
Mercy: No

• Dual-Chamber Leadless (Wireless) Pacemaker
  Pacemaker system without lead wires, implanted via catheter. After the procedure, there are no lifting or arm movement restrictions. 

St. Luke's: Yes
Mercy: No

• Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (EV-ICD)
  Device that shocks the heart when it detects a dangerous rhythm. Unlike other devices, EV-ICD lead wires are located under the sternum, outside the vascular system.

St. Luke's: Yes
Mercy: No

• CardioMEMS™ HF System
  Technology that helps people living with heart failure manage their condition from home. A wireless sensor is implanted in the pulmonary artery via catheter and the patient lays on a pillow-like device to transmit daily pressure readings to the care team.

St. Luke’s: Yes
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: 2017
Mercy: 2023

• 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: April 2021
Mercy: October 2021

St. Luke's Emergency Department, with locations in Cedar Rapids and Marion, is the only Accredited Chest Pain Center in the area, as designated by the American College of Cardiology. During emergencies like cardiac arrest and heart attacks, seconds can save lives. With access to the highest level of cardiac care right here in Cedar Rapids, our patients receive crucial care sooner with fewer complications and higher survival rates.

1960s - 1990s

• 1966 - First Cedar Rapids hospital to open a Cardiac Care Unit.
• 1978 - First Cedar Rapids hospital to offer open heart surgery.
• 1983 - First Cedar Rapids hospital to offer Cardiac Rehabilitation.
• 1995 - First Cedar Rapids hospital to offer cardiac stents.

2000s

• 2000 - Nassif Heart Center opens.
• 2001 - St. Luke's is recognized as a Top 100 Stroke Hospital.
• 2002 - First Iowa hospital to introduce the hypothermia protocol for cardiac arrest patients.
• 2004 - Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital in the U.S.
• 2006 - Transition to Home program for heart failure patients begins.
• 2006 - The 10,000th open heart surgery is performed at St. Luke’s.
• 2007 - First Cedar Rapids hospital to perform patent foramen ovale (PFO)/atrial septal defect (ASD) closure.
• 2007 - Truven Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital in the U.S. (second time).
• 2008 - Truven Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital in the U.S. (third time).
• 2009 - Cardiologists, L.C. joins St. Luke's Hospital.

2010s

• 2010 - Society of Chest Pain Centers awards St. Luke’s full accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
• 2010 - Get with The Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold and Stroke Gold Performance Achievement Awards, American Heart and American Stroke Associations.
• 2012 - Truven Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital in the U.S. (fourth time).
• 2012 - American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2013 - One of three hospitals in the world using a high–resolution electrophysiology (EP) catheter.
• 2013 - Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care grants St. Luke’s full accreditation.
• 2013 - American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.
• 2013 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2014 - First in Cedar Rapids to use the Arctic Front Advance Cardiac Cryoballoon System.
• 2014 - St. Luke's develops a program for treating chronic coronary disease; chronic total occlusions (CTO).
• 2014 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2015 - Named a Truven Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital in the U.S. (fifth time).
• 2015 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2016 - First in Iowa to use the VenaSeal™ closure system, a minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins.
• 2016 - Truven Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital in the U.S. (sixth time).
• 2016 - First in Cedar Rapids to offer transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive, catheter–based procedure that's an alternative to open heart surgery.
• 2016 - American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.
• 2016 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain - MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2017 - Cedar Rapids’ first WATCHMAN™ procedure for AFib patients is performed at St. Luke’s.
• 2017 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2018 - St. Luke's performs first mitral valve commissurotomy, a surgery that improves blood flow through the valve.
• 2018 - First successful implantation of the VITARIA® System in a patient enrolled in the Autonomic Regulation Therapy to Enhance Myocardial Function and Reduce Progression of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (ANTHEM– HFrEF) Pivotal Study.
• 2018 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2019 - American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.
• 2019 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.

2020s

• 2020 - Pediatric Cardiology earns Pediatric Echocardiography Accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).
• 2020 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2021 - MitraClip, a minimally invasive procedure for mitral valve repair, is first offered in Cedar Rapids by St. Luke's.
• 2021 - St. Luke’s performs Cedar Rapids’ first Shockwave procedure, which delivers sonic pressure waves that fracture plaque and reopen blocked arteries.
• 2021 - Iowa’s Only Transcatheter Valve (TAVR) Certification from the American College of Cardiology.
• 2021 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2022 - The hospital embarks on a $25 million Heart and Vascular Center Expansion.
• 2022 - American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2023 - Iowa’s only Transcatheter Valve (TAVR) Certification from the American College of Cardiology.
• 2023 - Becker’s Hospital Review “100 Hospitals with Great Heart Programs.”
• 2023 - American Heart Association Get with The Guidelines – Gold Plus, Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.
• 2023 - American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation Accreditation.
• 2023 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2024 - Area’s first Pulsed Field Ablation treatment is offered at St. Luke’s for treatment of AFib.
• 2024 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2025 - St. Luke’s structural heart team completes 700th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement procedure.
• 2025 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award.
• 2025 - St. Luke’s is first in Cedar Rapids to offer Dual–Chamber Leadless (Wireless) Pacemaker system, the AVEIR™ DR.
• 2026 - St. Luke’s offers Cedar Rapids’ first CardioMEMS Heart Failure monitoring system.
• 2026 - The first extravascular implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (EV–ICD) in Cedar Rapids is implanted by a St. Luke’s electrophysiologist.
• 2026 - St. Luke’s completes its $25 million Heart & Vascular Center Expansion, increasing capacity for the growing number of patients who need St. Luke’s specialized care.
• 2026 - American College of Cardiology NCDR Chest Pain – MI Platinum Performance Achievement Award (15th consecutive year).
• 2026 - American Heart Association Get with The Guidelines – Gold Plus, Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

Arterial blockage is diagnosed during cardiac catheterization. Dye is inserted into the arteries of the heart using a long, flexible tube. The dye illuminates the blockage, allowing cardiologists to see its size and location. Doctors then develop a custom treatment plan.

One of the most technologically advanced facilities in the state, our St. Luke’s EP labs are where specialists diagnose and treat patients with abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Procedures such as pacemaker and defibrillator implants are performed in an EP lab. These minimally invasive techniques use pinpoint precision, allowing patients to return to everyday activities quickly - sometimes in a matter of days.

Doctors diagnose and evaluate circulatory problems such as life-threatening blockages and narrowing of arteries, through sophisticated, noninvasive screening methods in the Vascular and Interventional Radiology lab. The most common conditions diagnosed include:

• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) – blood flow to the extremities is restricted
• Occlusive disease – a complete block of blood flow through a vessel
• Vasospastic disorders – blood vessel spasms; results in decreased vessel opening
• Aneurysm – weakening of the inner wall of a blood vessel; leads to vessel ballooning out of shape
• Malformed blood vessels
• Fistula – abnormal connection between two vessels
• Small vascular tumor

Your heart disease can go undetected for years. St. Luke's developed Heart Scan to speed up the process of finding heart disease. We use this screening to identify plaque in your coronary arteries and assess your heart's health. There are no injections, treadmills or pre-test fasting.

Cost: $150
Call today to learn more or schedule your Heart Scan: (319) 369-8129 (a doctor's referral is required)

How does a Heart Scan work?

A computed tomography (CT) machine takes X-ray pictures of your heart and detects plaque in the arteries, creating a number called a calcium score. This number determines your heart disease risk. The results help your doctor assess your risk of heart disease and which steps you can take to avoid serious heart complications.

Who can get a Heart Scan?

The Heart Scan is for men and women between the ages of 40 and 70. All that's needed is a doctor's referral. 

Key Heart Screening Tests

It's important to talk to your provider about these key heart screening tests to be sure you are doing everything you can for a healthy heart ...

Blood Pressure: High blood pressure greatly increases the risk for heart disease or stroke. This is one of the most important screenings because symptoms of high blood pressure are difficult to detect. If your blood pressure is greater than 120/80 mm Hg, have it checked regularly. High blood pressure can be controlled through lifestyle changes and/or medication.

Cholesterol: Also known as Fasting Lipoprotein Profile, this blood test measures LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and total cholesterol. This too can be monitored through lifestyle changes and/or medication.

Body Weight: Your Body Mass Index (BMI) measurements tell if you are at a healthy body weight and composition. Obesity puts you at a greater risk for heart disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat), congestive heart failure, diabetes and more.

Blood Glucose: High blood glucose levels put you at risk for insulin resistance, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to health issues such as heart disease or stroke. If you are overweight and have at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor, your doctor may recommend a blood glucose test.

Smoking, Physical Activity and Diet: If you are a smoker, talk to your provider about ways to quit. Also discuss your physical activity and eating habits. Ask about ways to improve your lifestyle and get your heart health back on track!

Why is Screening Important

The key to lowering your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, also called coronary artery disease (CAD), is to manage health behaviors and risk factors. These include diet, physical activity, smoking, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and more. To know which risk factors you may have, your doctor may conduct or request screening tests.

Everyone has different levels of risk. If your test results are not ideal, it doesn't mean you will develop cardiovascular disease. Instead, it means you can start a journey to a healthier lifestyle and change your health for the better!

Some tests, such as body weight and blood pressure, are taken during routine appointments, and some cardiovascular screenings start as early as age 20. Follow up exams depend on your level of risk.

If you have been previously diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition such as heart failure or atrial fibrillation or have a history of heart attack or stroke you may require additional and more frequent screenings. Even if you have not been diagnosed you may require frequent testing if you have risk factors or a family history of cardiovascular disease.

Open or surgical cardiac and major thoracic procedures.

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair
• Congenital heart surgery – for defects present from birth
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)/bypass surgery
• Heart valve surgery (non-transcatheter)
• Lobectomy using Da Vinci Xi robotic surgery system
• Vascular trauma cases (when surgical)
• Ventricular assist devices (VAD)

Medically supervised program to help patients recovering from heart- and lung-related conditions or procedures.

• Supervised exercise training to strengthen the heart/lungs and improve endurance
• Education on heart-healthy living, such as nutrition, smoking cessation, stress management and weight control

Non-invasive cardiac imaging/testing ordered by a primary care physician or cardiologist.

• Arterial duplex/full lower extremity arterial exam
• Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA)
• Cardiac MRI
• Carotid artery duplex
• Coronary artery calcium scoring (Heart Scan)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
• Holter/event/telemetry monitoring
• Nuclear stress testing
• Pediatric transthoracic echocardiogram (peds echo)
• Tilt-table tests
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (2D/3D TEE)
• Transthoracic echocardiogram (2D/3D ECHO)
• Treadmill stress tests
• Stress echocardiograms
• Venous duplex/full lower extremity venous exam

Care for heart rhythm disorders, device implantation and ablation procedures.

• Arrhythmia ablation with radiofrequency (RF), pulsed field ablation (PFA) or cryotherapy
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT): pacemaker or ICD
• Cardioversion
• Chronic lead(s) extractions
• Extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD)
• Implantable cardiac recorders
• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD)
• Leadless (wireless) permanent pacemaker (single or dual chamber)
• Permanent pacemaker (PPM)
• Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (SQ-ICD)

Medical management, prevention and non-procedural cardiology care.

• Cardiovascular disease prevention/risk factor assessment
• Chronic coronary artery disease treatment
• Heart failure management
• Hypertension management
• Medical management of arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms)
• Perioperative cardiac care (care after heart surgery/procedures)
• Referrals for cardiac genetic testing
• Simple congenital heart disease management
• Valve disease management

Diagnosis and treatment of heart and blood vessel conditions, including opening blocked arteries and restoring blood flow.

• Coronary angiography/left heart catheterization
• Coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO)
• Coronary diagnostics: intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and fractional flow reserve (FFR)
• Coronary intervention:
  • Angioplasty
  • Stent
  • Atherectomy
  • Thrombectomy
  • Lithotripsy (Shockwave)
• Left ventricular support: Impella, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)
• Remote pulmonary artery monitoring (CardioMEMS HF system)
• Right heart catheterization

Diagnosis and management of heart problems in children, including congenital heart disease, heart rhythm disorders, abnormal lipid levels, chest pain, palpitations and dizziness/fainting.

• Non-invasive diagnostic testing, including pediatric electrocardiograms (EKGs) and echocardiograms
• Consultations from board-certified visiting pediatric cardiologists
• Care coordination and referrals to tertiary care centers or specialists for advanced diagnostics or procedures

Procedures done via catheter for heart valves, septal defects and appendage closure.

• Balloon valvuloplasty
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD)/patent foramen ovale (PFO) occlusion
• Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO)
• Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR)/MitraClip
• Transcatheter paravalvular leak closure (PVL)

Treatment of conditions affecting the arteries and veins outside the heart.

• Angiography
• Aortic aneurysm repair
• Aortic, iliac and extremity artery bypass
• Arterial atherectomy
• Arterial balloon lithotripsy
• Carotid artery surgery
• Certified dedicated vascular ultrasound lab
• Dialysis fistula creation and management
• Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair
• Mechanical and chemical thrombolysis
• Mesenteric and renal vasculature surgery
• Peripheral arterial angioplasty and stenting
• Retroperitoneal exposure for spinal surgery
• Ruptured aortic aneurysm repair
• Transcarotid stenting (TCAR)
• Transfemoral carotid artery stenting
• Treatment/repair of vascular trauma
• Varicose vein injection and/or removal
• Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registry
• VenaSeal procedure for symptomatic insufficiency
• Venous ablation for symptomatic insufficiency

Innovative, FDA-approved technology that helps people living with heart failure manage their condition from home. CardioMEMS uses a small, wireless sensor, implanted in the pulmonary artery, to measure and transmit daily pressure readings to the care team. This allows providers to detect early changes and adjust treatment before symptoms worsen.

AVEIR™ DR, the world’s first dual-chamber leadless (wireless) pacemaker system, is a minimally invasive treatment for abnormal or slow heart rhythms. It works by sending electrical signals to both the upper and lower chambers of the heart (the right atrium and right ventricle), helping it beat normally again.

Leadless devices are implanted directly into the heart via catheter. Unlike traditional pacemakers, they eliminate the need for cardiac lead wires. As a result, leadless pacemakers reduce patients’ exposure to potential complications and offer a less restrictive and shorter recovery period post-implantation.

Patients who experience more serious arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) may benefit from an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. A St. Luke’s cardiologist who specializes in electrophysiology implants this heartbeat-regulating device under the skin of the upper chest with the use of numbing medicine, or sometimes general anesthesia. During the procedure, the wires are guided to the heart via X-ray images.

St. Luke’s also offers an extravascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (EV-ICD). This new FDA-approved device detects and treats dangerous rhythms and provides a shock or pacing therapy to the heart. It is the only ICD available that provides both anti-tachycardia pacing (for fast heart rates) and temporary bradycardia pacing (for slow heart rates). Unlike traditional ICDs placed near the collarbone, the EV-ICD is implanted in the left chest wall and its lead wires run beneath the sternum rather than through veins.

St. Luke’s was the first to offer MitraClip in Cedar Rapids for patients diagnosed with mitral regurgitation (a leaky mitral valve) and are too high risk for surgical valve repair or replacement.

One of the four major heart valves, the mitral valve connects the left upper chamber of the heart to the left lower chamber. It has two leaflets, and over time, the valve can become diseased and leak (regurgitate). This can cause fatigue and shortness of breath.

A St. Luke’s structural cardiologist attaches the MitraClip to the mitral valve to decrease the gap between the two leaflets. As a result, the valve is able to close more completely. MitraClip is an alternative to open heart surgery. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and involves making an incision in the groin and using a catheter through a vein to deploy the device. Patients typically stay one night in the hospital.

A PFO is a hole in the wall between the top two chambers of the heart. Everyone is born with a PFO. It allows for normal blood circulation during fetal development. Typically, the PFO closes after birth when the lungs take over. However, in about 25% of people, the PFO remains open. In most cases, it does not cause symptoms or heart issues. Others may experience low oxygen levels, shortness of breath, migraines. A PFO increases risk of blood clots and stroke if blood recirculates and bypasses the lungs, which can allow debris to be pumped into the brain and other parts of the body.

A PFO closure had traditionally been performed via open heart surgery. Today there is a less invasive approach. During a PFO closure, structural cardiologists insert an ultrasound device through one catheter for visibility during the procedure. Through another catheter, they deploy an umbrella-type device that is pulled through the opening and released to close the hole. A PFO repair is an outpatient procedure that takes approximately 90 minutes, and the patient returns home the same day. It eliminates the patient’s symptoms and significantly improves their quality of life.

A potentially life-saving treatment for patients with arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), pulse field ablation uses high-energy electrical pulsesto remove the area(s) causing the arrhythmia and restore normal rhythm. Pulsed field ablation does this without using excess heat or cold, which can damage surrounding tissue. An electrophysiology cardiologist performs the procedure on an outpatient basis in only a few hours, and patients can resume normal activities in a matter of days.

St. Luke’s introduced and is the only hospital in Cedar Rapids that offers the Shockwave procedure. Shockwave involves the insertion of a catheter and emitter through an artery in the wrist or leg. When St. Luke’s interventional cardiologists turn on the device, it sends a pulse into the vessel wall to break down the hardened material. The artery can then be more easily expanded, and a stent implanted. Shockwave is also known as intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) because it is based on the same lithotripsy technology used to safely break up kidney stones.

One of the newest treatments for aortic stenosis is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a procedure that St. Luke’s Heart Care team introduced to Cedar Rapids in 2016. TAVR is for patients who are high-risk or too sick for open-heart surgery. It is a catheter-based procedure whereby a St. Luke’s structural cardiologist delivers a replacement valve to the heart through an artery in the groin.

TAVR greatly improves a patient’s quality of life. Additionally, since it does not require a surgeon to open the chest, TAVR patients generally recover more quickly, allowing them to return to their jobs, families and lives sooner.

 

Also known as the atrial appendage closure, the Watchman procedure is appropriate for patients at risk of developing blood clots in the left atrium of their heart. The device is designed to reduce a patient’s risk of stroke and eliminate the need to take blood-thinning medication.

Watchman is a small device placed in the part of the heart where clots are most likely to form. It acts as a barrier to keep clots from entering the bloodstream. St. Luke’s structural cardiologists implant Watchman through a catheter inserted in the leg, similar to the procedure for inserting a stent.

St. Luke’s Heart Failure Clinic, part of St. Luke’s Heart Care Clinic, offers the tools you need to feel better. We'll teach you how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heart failure so you can monitor yourself at home. In addition, St. Luke’s is the only hospital in the area that offers the new, FDA-approved CardioMEMS system, which sends daily pressure readings to the heart team, giving them a clearer picture of what’s happening between visits and allowing them to detect early changes and adjust treatment before symptoms worsen. Ultimately, it is the goal of providers to help patients with heart failure reduce unnecessary visits to the emergency room, prevent hospitalization and live a more full and productive life.

Designed for patients with heart murmurs or heart valve diseases, the Heart Valve Clinic is a program that provides comprehensive diagnostics and customized treatment for valvular heart disease before it becomes serious or fatal.