The Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute's Invasive Cardiology Program provides a full range of diagnostic and interventional services for patients presenting with various cardiac and vascular diseases.
Under the Direction of Dr. Charles Chambers, the interventional staff features academic clinicians with advanced training and expertise who are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiac and vascular medicine. Performing both inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and interventional studies, the Invasive Cardiology Program performs over 3,000 procedures annually including coronary angiography, right heart catheterizations, right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies, pulmonary hypertension pharmacological studies, cardiac and peripheral interventions. While the traditional femoral approach is utilized, the interventional staff is trained in performing diagnostic and interventional procedures accessing the radial artery [wrist].
Dr. Ian Gilchrist is a national leader of this wrist technique and has brought this technology to the Heart and Vascular Institute Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Interventional coronary/cardiac services offered to patients include coronary angioplasty (balloon and stent), rotational, directional, and transluminal atherectomy, excimer laser, pressure and Doppler flow studies, in addition to aortic valvuloplasty.
Dr. Mark Kozak offers patients treatment options for congenital heart disease utilizing closure devices. Prompt surgical backup from our world-class surgical team is available for all procedures. The international prominence of the Heart and Vascular cardiac transplant program has provided opportunities to participate in various investigational studies which serve as either primary or a bridge to cardiac transplantation. Under the direction of Dr. Mark Kozak and the heart transplant team, the Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute serves as a national clinical site for many state-of-the-art device trials. Peripheral diagnostic and interventional procedures including upper and lower extremity, renal artery and carotid studies/interventions are also performed by the interventional physicians under the direction of Dr. Steven Ettinger. Working together with physicians and staff from the Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery programs, a multidisciplinary approach serves to optimize patient care.
Unique to the Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute is the Heart Alert program which serves to optimize treatment options for patients presenting with an acute myocardial infarction. Collaborating with regional paramedics and members of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Emergency Department, the Heart Alert program triggers a timely response for all patients from the moment they are identified –prior to their arrival at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Since the initiation of the Heart Alert program the median door-to-balloon time for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is 85 minutes [current ACC/AHA guidelines recommendation for door-to-balloon time being ≤ 90 minutes].
The cardiovascular catheterization laboratory staff is composed of experienced registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, registered cardiovascular technologists and nurse practitioners, all who have extensive training in treating heart and vascular patients. Staff members are trained in the various invasive techniques and are required to participate in ongoing departmental quality improvement efforts. A team of staff members are on call at all times to handle emergency cardiac and vascular cases including patients enrolled in the Heart Alert program.
Patients undergoing procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory will have an opportunity to view an educational video explaining what to expect during their procedure as well as post-procedure instructions. Patients also receive individualized care from staff nurses, physicians and the Interventional Cardiology Nurse Practitioner, Mrs. Helen Zimmerman. The Heart and Vascular Institute Interventional Nurse Practitioner provides educational information relating to risk factor modification for patients with atherosclerotic heart and vascular disease.
Physicians and staff are recognized as national leaders in the field of interventional cardiology.
The Invasive Cardiology program provides world-class care to patients and their family members in an environment that is comforting and compassionate which highlights the unique Interventional Cardiology program of the Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute.
Interventional Cardiology/ Invasive Catheterization Procedures:
