Cardiac Care Program

High Ranking
Regional is consistently ranked among the 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals in the United States by Thomson and is a recipient of numerous HealthGrades Excellence Awards.

Regional earns commendable marks for demonstrating top-notch patient care and is highlighted as a leader when performing acute myocardial infarction (AMI), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), and coronary bypass graft (CABG) procedures.

As the area's first and only comprehensive acute care cardiac facilty, Regional's Top 100 disctinctions and Excellence Awards honors both the medical staff and the hospital staff for outstanding achievement in progressive heart care.

Getting To The Heart of The Matter
Often, heart patients from other area hospitals are transferred to Regional Medical Center so that they can receive the extensive and more specialized care they require. Additionally, qualifying patients transported by ambulance come directly to Regional for immediate cardiac and stroke care.

At the center of the program is state-of-the-art cardiac diagnostic testing including cardiac stress testing, electrocardiograms (EKG), cardiac ultrasound and more. Always on the leading edge, The Heart Institute performs minimally invasive heart surgery and defibrillator implants. Extensive interventional techniques for stopping heart attacks before they can do more damage are employed through balloon angioplasty; stent - a small, support device that keeps a collapsing artery open; and Rotablator - a special catheterization technique that uses a tiny football-shaped tip covered with diamond crystals that chip away at highly calcified arterial plaque.

Regional's cardiac program also includes a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program which combines individualized exercise, education and diet management guidance. Our very special Heart-to-Heart volunteers, many of whom have been Heart Institute patients themselves, provide emotional support and education to cardiac patients and their families during hospitalization and, if needed, after discharge. An advantage for our cardiac patients requiring home health services, Regional has the only Home Health Services program with cardiac specialists.


State-of-the-Art Procedures Performed At RMC

Acute Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)/Unstable Angina - Regional can deliver the state-of-the-art, immediate, artery-opening care of rapid PTCA (balloon angioplasty) and open a closed coronary artery to lessen the damage of a heart attack.
Atherectomy - This interventional procedure uses a mechanically driven cutting device to remove a blockage in a coronary artery. The Rotoblator device has a tiny, football-shaped tip that rotates much like a propeller and chips away at aterial plaque. Our Heart Institute was one of the first sites in Alabama selected to perform this technique.
Beating Heart Bypass - Surgeons using the beating heart bypass technique use specially designed instruments to hold the area of the heart being operated on motionless while the rest of the heart continues to beat, allowing a high level of precision.
Balloon Angioplasty - Angioplasty involves threading a catheter with a balloon attached through the main leg artery to the blocked vessel in the heart. The balloon is then inflated, flattening the cholesterol deposits against the artery wall and increasing blood flow.
Cardiac Catheterization - A diagnostic procedure that allows a physician to see heart problems via x-rays and other readings.
Catheter Ablation - This procedure is used to eliminate specific heart cells in order to fix an electrical problem in the heart's rhythm. Regional is the only hospital in the region to perform ablations on patients in Atrial Fibrillation.
Echocardiogram - An echocardiogram, or ECHO, is a test that uses ultrasound to create an image of your heart. A physician can see how well your heart muscle and valves are working as well as how big or small your heart is. An ECHO is a diagnostic tool.
Electrophysiology - RMC was the first in County to offer electrophysiology studies to diagnose arrhythmias, or miscues in the heart's electrical system.
Heart Valve Replacement - This surgery aims to correct a blood flow problem due to the heart chambers' gatekeepers not working right.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators - Small internal devices that will give your heart an electrical shock if your heart begins beating dangerously fast and irregular.
Open-Heart Surgery - Our Heart Institute houses the only open-heart surgery unit in County. Minimally invasive open-heart surgery and transmyocardial revascularization are two of the latest surgical advances being performed by the cardiac surgeons at the Heart Institute. Click to CABG procedure video
Pacemaker - A battery-run device that makes sure that your heart is beating at a set number of beats per minute when your own heart beat is too slow.
Stents - A stent is a small, spring like device that is used to keep a previously clogged artery open.
Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR) - This cutting-edge technique is for cardiac patients who cannot be successfully treated through angioplasty, open-heart surgery, stents or any of the other current techniques. Thanks to TMR, many patients with chronic coronary heart disease are given a whole new lease on life.


Cardiac Patient Care Units

Critical Care Recovery
This 10-bed unit is an intensive recovery area specializing in the cardiovascular and pulmonary needs of patients immediately after heart valve surgery, coronary bypass surgery, transmyocardial revascularization and major thoracic, aortic and vascular repairs.

The CCR nurses work collaboratively with the physicians, respiratory and cardiac rehab therapists, dietitians and specialists to stabilize the patient, wean them from chemical and mechanical support and prepare them for transfer to the cardiac step-down area approximately 24 to 48 hours after surgery.

Interventional Cardiac Care Unit
The Interventional Cardiac Care (ICC) Unit is a 16-bed unit that cares for pre- and post-interventional cardiac procedure patients. The staff in this area specializes in the fast-paced, short length of stay and special needs of these patients.

Major activities include preparation for invasive cardiology procedures, recovery from invasive cardiology procedures, and maintenance and discontinuation of invasive line and titrating vasoactive drugs.

Cardiac Rehabilitation
After experiencing a cardiac event such as a heart attack or open-heart surgery, patients may feel as if their energy and physical activities will never return to the levels once enjoyed.

In fact, many cardiac patients can achieve an active, productive lifestyle through the personalized Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Regional Medical Center. Our three-phase program helps patients regain strength and endurance through an individualized diet and exercise regimen. In addition, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program helps patients identify heart disease risk factors and avoid future cardiac problems.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Regional Medical Center takes a team approach to improving patients' health and vitality. Our skilled cardiac rehabilitation staff includes:

Specially Trained Cardiac Nurses
Cardiac Technologists
Registered Nurses
Licensed Practical Nurses
Athletic Trainers
Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists

Together, our cardiac rehabilitation team motivates and guides patients toward an improved quality of life by focusing on a gradual increase in strength, mobility and independence.

Heart-to-Heart Support Group
Our cardiac patients and their families receive vital information and assistance from our Heart-to-Heart volunteers. Many of these dedicated volunteers have been Heart Institute patients themselves, or have a spouse who has. They provide emotional support and education to cardiac patients and their families during hospitalization and, if needed, after discharge. Following discharge, recovering cardiac patients receive phone calls to check their progress, as well as cards and correspondence from the Heart-to-Heart staff.

If you or your spouse is a heart attack survivor you can volunteer as a patient and family liaison in our Heart-to-Heart organization. Our volunteers are greatly appreciated and are rewarded for the thousands of hours of time they continue to devote to Regional year after year. They are a vital part of our hospital's operations and a priceless resource. Call our volunteer services office at 205-752-5050 weekdays to learn how you can share your smile, talents, experience and understanding.