$1 Million Cardiac Catheterization Lab Enhances Close-to-Home Care at UH St. John Medical Center

John Coletta. MD, Chairman, Department of Cardiology, St John Medical Center. The new UH SJMC Cath Lab integrates cardiovascular and interventional radiology services targeting vascular as well as cardiac patient needs.

A million-dollar cardiac catheterization lab is the newest addition to state-of-the-art services available to west side residents at University Hospitals St. John Medical Center.

A cardiac catheterization lab is a specialized hospital room where physicians perform minimally invasive tests and procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.

These procedures utilize tiny, flexible tubes – called catheters – instead of surgery to access the heart and blood vessels.

Artis one is the name of the system that marks this new approach and upgrade to interventional imaging at UH St. John Medical Center.

“Critical life-and limb-saving procedures are being performed here at UH St. John Medical Center,” said Nadim Al-Mubarak, MD, cardiologist. “Everything that can be done anywhere in the world is now done here. University Hospitals continues to bring state-of-the-art services and equipment to the communities it serves. This allows us to deliver patient care with the highest quality efficacy and enhanced safety.”

: Ramesh Brahmbhatt, MD, with the next generation equipment now in place at UH St. John Med-ical Center.

: Nadim Al-Mubarak, MD, says the newest cardiac cath lab equipment at UH SJMC is truly high-def, allowing the physician to image arteries from all angles.

Artis one gives physicians true high-definition insight for uncompromised imaging to verify techniques like stent positioning in real time. Intelligent operation is enhanced by a new, display-driven user interface enabling intuitive interaction with the system.

Patients who come to the emergency room as STEMI (heart attack) candidates through Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are especially benefited. Having a cardiac catheterization lab on-site at UH St. John Medical Center helps prevent heart damage by the travel time it saves. “The shorter the time from the event to the procedure, the better the result for the patient,” said Dr. Al-Mubarak, who has served UH St. John for 17 years as a cardiologist and interventional cardiologist.

“This truly is state-of-the-art technology,” agreed John Coletta, MD, Chairman, Department of Cardiology, St. John Medical Center. “It integrates cardiovascular and interventional radiology services including vascular procedures.”

The upgraded catheterization lab is another of the many proactive changes UH has brought to the west side through UH St. John Medical Center. Others include UH Urologic Institute, UH Neurologic Institute, Otolaryngology services, Stroke and Chest Pain Centers and a Level III trauma center.

“UH St. John Medical Center is so fortunate to have such a great group of cardiologists,” said Robert G. David, President. “This investment provides state of the art equipment so our patients can be cared for close to home. In cardiology, time is muscle!”