President and CEO Stephen Reintjes Sr., MD (center),
and staff and physicians from the Cardiac Catheterization
Lab officially open the newly renovated Cath Lab.
North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health completed a $12 million Cardiac Catheterization Lab renovation, giving interventional cardiologists the ability to treat more patients more efficiently and with reduced radiation exposure.
The renovation to four Cath Labs includes:
- A premier hybrid OR for performing surgical and image-guided interventional procedures, including heart valve replacements and mitral valve repairs
- Low dose X-ray equipment, which reduces exposure for patients by 50%-70%
- New maneuverable ceiling-mounted equipment, which gives staff more floor space, especially during multidisciplinary procedures
- Control rooms with open views of the suites, which improves communication with staff in the procedure areas
NKCH and MH physicians perform a variety of routine and complex image-guided procedures in the suites. These include angioplasty and stent procedures, cardiac and radio frequency ablations, defibrillator and pacemaker implantations, electrophysiology studies, generator changes, lead revisions, cardiac catheterizations, aortic valve replacements and mitral valve repairs. All are provided at the only Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Cardiac Center in the Northland.
The renovation also included a medication room, nursing station, staff lounge and two outpatient recovery areas for a total of 10. In the months ahead, new 3D mapping will be added to the EP Cath Lab, which will help physicians more precisely interpret the mechanisms of complex arrhythmias.