To help improve local access to highly
specialized heart care services,
Lakewood Regional Medical Center
has broken ground on a $10 million expansion
of its cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Due to the increasing number of cardiac
patients being treated, LRMC found it necessary
to expand the cardiac cath lab by
7,000 square feet. The new lab, slated to
open in January 2009, will not only increase
the number of patients that can be seen
and treated, but will also enhance the types
of cardiac services LRMC can provide to
patients.
According to Kevin Brown, cardiovascular
service line director, “The decision to
expand the cardiac program was in response
to the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular
disease within the community we serve.
The expansion of technology will offer a
state-of-the-art, fully sustainable cardiac
care unit.”
Hospital officials are eager to be able to
offer such a comprehensive cardiac program
to those who need this type of specialized
service.
“We are extremely excited that this caliber
of unit is being built at our hospital,” commented
Mark Korth, chief executive officer
at LRMC. “The new cath lab procedure
rooms will be equipped with state-ofthe-
art digital imaging systems that have
consistently been one of the highest rated
systems on the market. To go along with
this latest technology, the cath lab will have
a highly experienced, dedicated staff to care
for patients 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.”
The expanded cath lab will also have the
capabilities to perform a full range of
peripheral vascular imaging and treatment.
Brown explained, “In addition to cardiac
procedures, the new procedure rooms will
be equipped to perform most peripheral
vascular angiography procedures.”
The cardiac care program at LRMC has
seen tremendous advancements over the last
few years under the leadership of several
key physicians.
“Being able to offer the highest quality
cardiac care to our patients has always been
our top priority,” stated Jack Dobkin, MD,
medical director of Lakewood's cath lab.
“It is wonderful to know that patients in
this area will have such a great facility and
experienced physicians to count on when it
comes to heart care.”
The newly expanded area will give the cardiac
cath lab extra square footage needed
to offer a full range of services. Included in
the redesign are dedicated waiting areas, a
pre-procedure holding area and consultation
room for patients, a conference room and a
completely remodeled locker room for physicians
and staff.
Brown explained, “By adding these facilities,
we will be able to give better service
and even a higher quality of care to our
patients.”
The design of the lab was created to make
patients more comfortable while undergoing
cardiac procedures, and the newly installed
technology will assist physicians in the
diag-nosis and treatment of advanced heart
disease.
“Over the past several years, Lakewood
Regional Medical Center has made quality
cardiac care in this region possible. We will
continue to do whatever it takes to make
this facility and the services we provide
- cardiac and others - the very best for the
people of this region,” said Korth.