Good Samaritan’s cardiology team marked the opening of a new cath lab on October 18. The cath lab features all new equipment, including the most contemporary, state of-the-art cardiac diagnostic imaging and treatment technology.

Good Samaritan’s cardiac catheterization lab and interventional cardiology team provide world-class care to those suffering from a heart attack.  The team has been recognized for meeting quality and response time benchmarks related to life-saving interventions for heart attack patients. 

"Our new cardiac catheterization lab enhances our ability to treat critically ill patients and saves lives when seconds count. The catheterization team has a long track record of providing exceptional cardiac care for patients undergoing both emergency and elective procedures. The addition of new, state-of-the art technology and equipment raises the bar on the caliber of cardiovascular care we are providing for the communities we serve,” said Marisela Marrero, MD, President Good Samaritan Medical Center.

The cardiac cath lab team at Good Samaritan performs an average of 800 procedures a year. These procedures include both emergency interventions for those suffering a heart attack as well as elective procedures such as angioplasty and stenting to treat cardiovascular disease. The team includes interventional cardiologists, cardiac nurses and radiology technologists.

Cardiac catheterization is a procedure used to assess of the heart’s performance, including its valves and the coronary arteries, and to locate blockages or narrowing of the arteries. During cardiac catheterization, a long thin tube called a catheter is inserted in an artery or vein in the groin, neck, or arm and threaded through blood vessels to the heart.   Angioplasty involves inserting a balloon-tipped catheter to clear blocked arteries whereas stenting is a procedure in which the physician implants an expandable coil in a narrowed artery to keep it open.

The cath lab (which originally opened in 2005) is located on the Medical Center’s first floor. The lab is now equipped with the most sophisticated cardiovascular diagnostic and imaging technology including:

Good Samaritan Medical Center Celebrates New Cardiac Catheterization Lab continued

•    A diagnostic cardiac imaging system that provides sharper images and improves the ability for physicians to see a patient's anatomy during a procedure, in addition to offering safety by reducing the radiation dose.

•    An advanced, highly specialized computer that allows the physicians to better visualize vessels and blockages. The enhanced image quality allows for quicker interventions and shorter procedural times. The new system also couples technology to measure the pressure inside the arteries that leads to improved outcomes. 

Good Samaritan Medical Center has been recognized by the American Heart Association with the Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award for the treatment of patients who suffer from heart attacks.