By Randy Gross, CEO
Broward Health Imperial Point
November 9 2021
In healthcare, time, technology and treatment matter. That’s why it’s so important for hospitals today to ensure patients in the community have access to critical care close to home, especially in an emergency.
While you may not think about what services are available at your closest hospital, we have. At Broward Health we invest in state-of-the-art technologies and our multidisciplinary team of experienced cardiac experts are on call 24/7, providing the highest quality care and treatments. Most recently at Broward Health Imperial Point we expanded our cardiac services with the opening of a new cardiac catheterization lab and interventional radiology suite. This major expansion allows our team of specialists to provide patients living within Fort Lauderdale’s heavily populated northeastern corridor with greater access to critical life-saving cardiac procedures closer to home.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and when it comes to a heart attack, time is of the essence. A state-of-the art cardiac suite that’s centrally located allows medical teams to quickly determine crucial and life-saving next steps and treat the most acute heart attack patients with critical interventional care.
We intentionally designed our cath lab on the ground floor of the hospital, just steps from the emergency department, to provide a seamless experience for cardiac patients and their families. The expanded cardiac suite includes two procedures rooms, seven pre-and-post-procedure patient care bays, an isolation room, a room devoted to echo cardiograms, three diagnostic stress lab stations, and an expansive waiting room equipped with the latest patient monitoring technology. The comprehensive cardiac and interventional radiology unit seamlessly combines interconnected services, providing patients with the highest quality, timely care.
As with most health conditions, early detection is key. A variety of screenings and advanced diagnostic tests associated with identifying cardiac and vascular diseases are performed at a catheterization lab as well as treatment for cardiovascular conditions including chest pain, heart attacks, heart failure, heart valve problems or cardiogenic shock. Among the procedures performed are diagnostic left and right heart cath, coronary intervention (angioplasty); cardiac implants – loop recorders; coronary intravascular ultrasound; thrombectomy; and IABP (intra-aortic balloon pump). Soon to be added to cardiac implants will be pacers and AICDs (automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator).
The new cath and interventional radiology lab is the latest capital improvement made in cardiac care at Broward Health. The health system, which has made a multi-million-dollar investment in cardiac service line upgrades, has a more than 50-year history in advanced cardiac care, dating back to the 1960s when Broward Health opened the first follow-up pacemaker clinic in the country. In the 1970s, the first cardiac cath lab and open heart surgery took place at Broward Health. The system has been distinguished as one of the nation’s top centers for cardiovascular treatment and provides comprehensive clinical, surgical and rehabilitative care.
Remember that it’s important for all of us to pay attention to our healthcare needs. Make that appointment for your annual physical. Schedule your screenings and tests. Take the time to discuss any health concerns you have with your physician. Understand that healthcare professionals are here to provide you with the highest level of care.
To learn more about our cardiovascular and interventional radiology services, call 954-776-8500 or visit BrowardHealth.org/BHIP.
