Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore Celebrates New Cardiac Catheterization Lab
SLIDELL, LA – May 18, 2011 – Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore celebrated its new, state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab on Tuesday, May 17th with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Along with the lab, Ochsner has also equipped the facility with new EKG machines and a new echocardiography system, which represents a $2.1 million investment in the community.
"We are teaming up with the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the new cath lab," says Polly Davenport, Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore Chief Executive Officer. Chamber members were invited to attend a Chamber Business After Hours at the hospital in conjunction with the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The new cath lab is the latest Toshiba Dual Plane system which centralizes cardiac and vascular procedures, allowing physicians to consolidate resources and provide more versatile, efficient care. As a result, physicians can perform a full heart study and a full vascular study without ever having to move the patient or transfer them to a different room. "This new technology makes a cath lab procedure much easier for our patients because everything is done in one place," says Bruce Iteld, MD, one of the first cardiologists to use the new lab. "As with any procedure we want to make our patients as comfortable as possible and this new lab goes a long way in that effort."
Cath labs are an integral part of a complete cardiac program, giving physicians the ability to perform a variety of less invasive procedures such as angioplasty and stent placements. "This technology allows for less invasive procedures, which oftentimes reduces the need for more invasive surgery, and results in quicker recovery time for our patients," says Dr. Iteld. This allows the patient to return to their normal lives in just a few days.
Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore's treatment of heart failure and coronary artery disease have been recognized by the American Heart Association for overall quality. In addition to offering cardiology services at the hospital, Ochsner also offers services at Ochsner Health Center – Covington and at the Ochsner Heart and Vascular Health Center – Hammond on the North Shore.
About Ochsner's North Shore services:
Ochsner's North Shore region includes health centers in Abita Springs, Covington, Hammond, Mandeville and Slidell, providing access to physicians in a range of specialties. Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore is a 165-bed, acute-care hospital in Slidell offering a range of inpatient and outpatient services. Ochsner North Shore is a part of Ochsner Health System, southeast Louisiana's largest non-profit, academic, multi-specialty, healthcare delivery system. For more information, please visit http://www.ochsner.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.