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Florida Hospital Flagler Announces the Construction of an Additional Cardiac Catheterization Lab
Florida Hospital Flagler announced the construction of a second Cardiac Catherization Lab, as well as an upgrade to the existing Lab, for a combined cost of $3.5 million. This new Lab is an investment in Flagler County and will put the community one-step closer to access to interventional Catheterization Lab services, which will offer life-saving procedures with the potential to eliminate the need for more extreme measures, such as open heart surgery.
“Fortunately for all of us, medical technology continues to advance, equipping the skilled professionals living among us with new tools to enhance the cardiac services offered by Florida Hospital Flagler,” said David Ottati, Florida Hospital Flagler CEO. “I’m proud to be involved in the enhancement of our Cardiology Services. We are committed to growing with the community and adding additional healthcare services as the community we serve can support them.”
The expanded capabilities of Florida Hospital Flagler’s new Catheterization Lab will include Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), which is a type of treatment for patients experiencing inadequate blood flow to the heart or a heart attack.
“The goal of PCI is to open up a blood vessel that brings blood and oxygen to the heart muscle and restore blood flow,” said Bob Sullivan, Florida Hospital Flagler Cardio-Pulmonary Director. “Primary PCI is an emergency treatment performed to reduce the amount of heart muscle permanently damaged by a heart attack. Primary PCI reduces the death rate from heart attack.”
PCI requires the use of a cardiac catheterization suite with special equipment, x-ray capability, and trained personnel. The artery is punctured through the skin with a special needle. Under x-ray guidance, a catheter is threaded through the femoral artery up into the large artery from the heart, the aorta, and then gently advanced into the affected coronary artery. There, a procedure known as balloon angioplasty can be performed. In this procedure, a balloon is used to open the coronary artery and restore blood flow. Sometimes a mesh-like metal tube, or stent, that holds open the artery is placed to maintain good blood flow through the damaged area.
Tony Papandrea, Florida Hospital Flagler Board Member and Florida Hospital Memorial Foundation Flagler Board Chairman, is driven to seeing this new Catheterization Lab come to fruition.
“In 2005, my wife, Dottie, needed a stress test and angiogram. Both of these procedures were performed at Florida Hospital Flagler, however, if the doctors determined that an interventional procedure was needed, she would have to receive this service outside Flagler County,” Papandrea said. “The stress test and angiogram procedures were completed with no complications, but my mind was never at ease.”
After the procedure, a physician explained to Papandrea that an upgrade and addition of a PCI Catheterization Lab at Florida Hospital Flagler would avoid situations like this in the future.
Now that the construction and upgrades are underway at Florida Hospital Flagler, Papandrea can rest assured knowing that his family, friends and neighbors will be able to receive interventional cardiac care without leaving the community.
The Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation has committed to raising $1.5 million to assist with the $3.5 million cost of the construction and upgrades.
"The Florida Hospital Flagler Volunteer Auxiliary recently made a donation of $50,000 towards the construction the additional Cardiac Catheterization Lab," said John Subers, Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation Director. "This generous gift, along with other gifts from those in the community, will move the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation one-step closer to its fundraising goal of $1.5 million for this specific project."
This new project comes on the heels of Florida Hospital Flagler’s recent receipt of the coveted Chest Pain Accreditation credential by the prestigious Society of Chest Pain Centers. In addition, Florida Hospital Flagler built a 16-bed Progressive Care Unit last year which will focus on caring for cardiac patients.
“Combine all of these new services and accreditations, and you can clearly see Florida Hospital Flagler is actively pursuing the goal of increasing the lifesaving cardiac services to the residents of Flagler County,” said Ottati. “We truly are committed to ensuring that the best health-care is available right here in our community.”