Heart Health
Leading Cardiac Specialists.
Advanced Treatment Options.
At JFK Medical Center, there are more options than ever before for treating cardiovascular illnesses. In fact, with the opening of our new cardiac catheterization laboratory, our team regularly performs procedures associated with a university hospital.
The Cardiovascular Center at JFK Medical Center provides a full compliment of the most cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment options.
An integrated team applies the latest prevention, diagnosis and treatment advancements while providing the highest quality of care and service possible. The physicians and programs represented at the hospital attract patients from throughout the region.
Our collaborative care model combines all heart and vascular services, ensuring each patient has access to the most state-of-the-art medical and surgical procedures. This team approach ensures that patients are seen by expert specialists who are at the forefront of their fields in research and clinical care. The decision-making and treatment-planning for each patient is done collaboratively. Every treatment option is explored to find the right care plan for each patient, given his or her specific cardiovascular diagnosis.
The Cardiovascular Center prides itself on maintaining strong lines of communication with its patients' primary care physicians and our community-based specialists. The Center collaborates closely with these individuals in formulating expeditious plans for Cardiology intervention and in providing thorough, advanced follow-up. Staff are always available for any questions or concerns from referring physicians.
• Outpatient Diagnostic Services
1. EKG - Electrocardiograms
2. Echo
3. Stress testing
4. Holter monitors
5. Tilt Table Testing
• Catheterization Lab Services
Cardiac Catheterization
PCI – Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Pacemaker Implantation
Emergency Angioplasty
Diagnostic Angiograms
• Cardiac Rehabilitation
Catheterization Lab Services
• Pacemaker Implants
This is a procedure to insert an artificial pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device. It helps maintain a normal heartbeat by sending electrical impulses to the heart.
• Coronary Angioplasty ("Balloons")
A coronary angioplasty is a procedure done to open an artery in the heart that has been narrowed. This allows better blood flow through the artery and to heart muscle. It is often done with a balloon passed through a special catheter (tube).
• Coronary Angiography
An angiography is an x-ray exam of the blood vessels. The exam uses a chemical that is injected into your blood vessels to make them more visible on the x-ray.
• Coronary Stents
In coronary stenting a mesh, metal tube is placed in an artery in the heart. The tube is called a stent. It helps keep the artery open. It is placed after an artery has been cleared of a blockage (angioplasty).
There are 2 types of stents. One type of stent is called a drug-eluting stent. It is coated with a medication that is slowly released. The medicine helps decrease the rate of reblockage in the artery. The other type of stent is called a bare metal stent. It does not contain any medication. Your doctor will discuss which stent option is best for you.
• Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a test that uses a catheter (tube) and x-ray machine to assess the heart and its blood supply.
• Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
These procedures are done to help clear and open arteries that have narrowed. A catheter is inserted into the artery in your groin (or less likely your arm). The catheter, which has a tiny balloon at the tip, is guided into the affected artery using x-ray pictures, displayed on a television monitor that the doctor views. Once in the artery, the balloon is quickly inflated and deflated to stretch open the narrowed portion of blood vessel and restore the passage of blood. Then the balloon and catheter are removed. Under most circumstances, the doctor will place a mesh "inner tube” or stent in the artery to keep it open.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a physician-supervised program for people who have either a congenital (present at birth) or acquired heart disease. Participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program can often improve exercise capacity, reduce symptoms, and improve the well-being of the patient. About 10 to 15 percent of patients seeing a physiatrist suffer from some form of heart disease.
What conditions can benefit from cardiac rehabilitation
Some of the conditions or procedures that may benefit from cardiac rehabilitation may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• congestive heart failure
• angina pectoris
• heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• post-open heart surgery
• post-heart transplantation
• post-angioplasty
• congenital heart disease
• arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
The cardiac rehabilitation team
Cardiac rehabilitation programs can be conducted on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Many skilled professionals are part of the cardiac rehabilitation team, including any/all of the following:
• cardiologist/cardiovascular surgeon
• physiatrist
• internist
• rehabilitation nurse
• dietician
• physical therapist
• occupational therapist
• exercise physiologist
• social worker
• psychologist/psychiatrist
• recreational therapist
• case manager
• chaplain
• vocational counselor
The cardiac rehabilitation program
A cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to meet the needs of the individual patient, depending upon the specific heart problem or disease. Active involvement of the patient and family is vital to the success of the program. The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to help the patient return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving the overall quality of life - physically, emotionally, and socially. These goals are often met by:
• decreasing cardiac symptoms and complications.
• encouraging independence through self-management.
• reducing hospitalizations.
• stabilizing or reversing atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the blood vessels).
• improving social, emotional, and vocational status.
In order to help reach these goals, cardiac rehabilitation programs may include the following:
• medication management to help reduce cardiac symptoms, complications, and hospitalizations
• exercise programs to help build fitness and improve endurance
• methods to improve independence and activities of daily living (ADLs)
• patient and family education and counseling
• smoking cessation
• nutritional counseling
• stress management and emotional support
• vocational counseling
Research done on cardiac rehabilitation programs has found them to benefit patients in the following ways:
• improve cardiac symptoms
• reduce blood cholesterol levels
• reduce cigarette smoking
• improve psychosocial well-being and reduce stress
• reduce death due to heart disease
Advanced Treatment Options.
At JFK Medical Center, there are more options than ever before for treating cardiovascular illnesses. In fact, with the opening of our new cardiac catheterization laboratory, our team regularly performs procedures associated with a university hospital.
The Cardiovascular Center at JFK Medical Center provides a full compliment of the most cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment options.
An integrated team applies the latest prevention, diagnosis and treatment advancements while providing the highest quality of care and service possible. The physicians and programs represented at the hospital attract patients from throughout the region.
Our collaborative care model combines all heart and vascular services, ensuring each patient has access to the most state-of-the-art medical and surgical procedures. This team approach ensures that patients are seen by expert specialists who are at the forefront of their fields in research and clinical care. The decision-making and treatment-planning for each patient is done collaboratively. Every treatment option is explored to find the right care plan for each patient, given his or her specific cardiovascular diagnosis.
The Cardiovascular Center prides itself on maintaining strong lines of communication with its patients' primary care physicians and our community-based specialists. The Center collaborates closely with these individuals in formulating expeditious plans for Cardiology intervention and in providing thorough, advanced follow-up. Staff are always available for any questions or concerns from referring physicians.
• Outpatient Diagnostic Services
1. EKG - Electrocardiograms
2. Echo
3. Stress testing
4. Holter monitors
5. Tilt Table Testing
• Catheterization Lab Services
Cardiac Catheterization
PCI – Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Pacemaker Implantation
Emergency Angioplasty
Diagnostic Angiograms
• Cardiac Rehabilitation
Catheterization Lab Services
• Pacemaker Implants
This is a procedure to insert an artificial pacemaker. A pacemaker is a small, battery-operated device. It helps maintain a normal heartbeat by sending electrical impulses to the heart.
• Coronary Angioplasty ("Balloons")
A coronary angioplasty is a procedure done to open an artery in the heart that has been narrowed. This allows better blood flow through the artery and to heart muscle. It is often done with a balloon passed through a special catheter (tube).
• Coronary Angiography
An angiography is an x-ray exam of the blood vessels. The exam uses a chemical that is injected into your blood vessels to make them more visible on the x-ray.
• Coronary Stents
In coronary stenting a mesh, metal tube is placed in an artery in the heart. The tube is called a stent. It helps keep the artery open. It is placed after an artery has been cleared of a blockage (angioplasty).
There are 2 types of stents. One type of stent is called a drug-eluting stent. It is coated with a medication that is slowly released. The medicine helps decrease the rate of reblockage in the artery. The other type of stent is called a bare metal stent. It does not contain any medication. Your doctor will discuss which stent option is best for you.
• Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a test that uses a catheter (tube) and x-ray machine to assess the heart and its blood supply.
• Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
These procedures are done to help clear and open arteries that have narrowed. A catheter is inserted into the artery in your groin (or less likely your arm). The catheter, which has a tiny balloon at the tip, is guided into the affected artery using x-ray pictures, displayed on a television monitor that the doctor views. Once in the artery, the balloon is quickly inflated and deflated to stretch open the narrowed portion of blood vessel and restore the passage of blood. Then the balloon and catheter are removed. Under most circumstances, the doctor will place a mesh "inner tube” or stent in the artery to keep it open.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a physician-supervised program for people who have either a congenital (present at birth) or acquired heart disease. Participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program can often improve exercise capacity, reduce symptoms, and improve the well-being of the patient. About 10 to 15 percent of patients seeing a physiatrist suffer from some form of heart disease.
What conditions can benefit from cardiac rehabilitation
Some of the conditions or procedures that may benefit from cardiac rehabilitation may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• congestive heart failure
• angina pectoris
• heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• post-open heart surgery
• post-heart transplantation
• post-angioplasty
• congenital heart disease
• arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
The cardiac rehabilitation team
Cardiac rehabilitation programs can be conducted on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Many skilled professionals are part of the cardiac rehabilitation team, including any/all of the following:
• cardiologist/cardiovascular surgeon
• physiatrist
• internist
• rehabilitation nurse
• dietician
• physical therapist
• occupational therapist
• exercise physiologist
• social worker
• psychologist/psychiatrist
• recreational therapist
• case manager
• chaplain
• vocational counselor
The cardiac rehabilitation program
A cardiac rehabilitation program is designed to meet the needs of the individual patient, depending upon the specific heart problem or disease. Active involvement of the patient and family is vital to the success of the program. The goal of cardiac rehabilitation is to help the patient return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving the overall quality of life - physically, emotionally, and socially. These goals are often met by:
• decreasing cardiac symptoms and complications.
• encouraging independence through self-management.
• reducing hospitalizations.
• stabilizing or reversing atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the blood vessels).
• improving social, emotional, and vocational status.
In order to help reach these goals, cardiac rehabilitation programs may include the following:
• medication management to help reduce cardiac symptoms, complications, and hospitalizations
• exercise programs to help build fitness and improve endurance
• methods to improve independence and activities of daily living (ADLs)
• patient and family education and counseling
• smoking cessation
• nutritional counseling
• stress management and emotional support
• vocational counseling
Research done on cardiac rehabilitation programs has found them to benefit patients in the following ways:
• improve cardiac symptoms
• reduce blood cholesterol levels
• reduce cigarette smoking
• improve psychosocial well-being and reduce stress
• reduce death due to heart disease