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The Washington Hospital is one of the region’s outstanding community hospitals providing complete cardiac care. It offers state-of-the-art technology, skilled cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists, and professional staff as well as the convenience of a community setting. Whether you are undergoing diagnostic testing or being treated for cardiac disease, you’ll receive the outstanding quality of care that is expected from a medical/surgical teaching hospital. At the same time, your primary care physician will play an important part in your recovery and will be informed of your progress while you are a patient at The Washington Hospital.

Diagnostic Tests

Diagnostic tests are performed to determine the exact heart problem. There are a number of diagnostic tests available, and these include:

Of the diagnostic tests, cardiac catheterization is the one which identifies the precise location and extent of blockages in the blood vessels. If the blockages are identified, the cardiologist may recommend medical treatment, balloon angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass surgery. The procedure is performed in one of the two Bernard H. Berman, M.D., Memorial Cardiac Catheterization Labs designated for this purpose. The labs are equipped with the most modern digital imaging equipment available. The Washington Hospital was the first hospital in the northeastern United States with this equipment, which produces images stored on compact discs rather than film. Because of the clarity of the images and the immediacy with which the cardiologists are able to read them, the quality of care patients receive is enhanced to an exceptional degree.
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Interventions

Stents

The cardiologist may place a small piece of stainless steel mesh, shaped like a tube, called a “stent” in the artery to help improve blood flow.

Balloon Angioplasty

Specially trained cardiologists perform this non-surgical procedure. A thin, flexible catheter is inserted into the heart’s blocked or narrowed artery. A balloon at the tip of the catheter is then inflated to help open or widen the narrowed area to increase blood flow to that part of the heart.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Cardiovascular surgeons perform coronary artery bypass surgery by rerouting blood past the blockages in the coronary arteries. Using blood vessels from other parts of the body, the surgeon will "bypass" or "detour" blood around the narrowed part of the artery. This allows oxygen and blood to flow to the heart muscle. Following surgery, patients are cared for by skilled nursing and rehabilitation teams.

The hospital also performs a number of other surgeries for cardiac patients, such as valve replacement surgery.
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Pre-Operative Teaching/Diagnostic Program

If you are scheduled for surgery by your physician’s office, you will first visit The Washington Hospital for pre-operative teaching and diagnostic tests. You will meet the members of the health care team who will be involved in your care. They will discuss with you what will happen before, during, and after surgery. At this time, all of your pre-operative diagnostic tests, such as lab, x-ray, and EKG, will be completed.
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Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Educational Classes for Cardiac Rehab

Cardiac rehabilitation at The Washington Hospital begins shortly after surgery and continues throughout your hospital stay. After discharge, you may participate in formal exercise sessions through the Outpatient Rehabilitation Program. Rehabilitation is a team effort at The Washington Hospital, and a rehabilitation nurse supervises the exercise program along with the help of dietitians, exercise physiologists, physical and occupational therapists, mental health specialists, and social workers. As long as you are a patient in cardiac rehab, your primary care physician will be informed of your progress.
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Cardiac Services At The Washington Hospital

The Washington Hospital is committed to providing the community with cardiac care that matches or exceeds the quality found in larger hospitals. Residents served by The Washington Hospital can receive this excellent care close to home from highly skilled physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals using the latest equipment available.
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