Cardiology

Cardiovascular care in Denver

HealthONE includes Denver’s largest and most comprehensive network of cardiovascular services. It includes six acute-care hospitals, a children’s hospital, seven freestanding emergency rooms (ERs) and multiple teams of clinical and surgical specialists. They collaborate to provide a higher level of heart and vascular care to our patients.

To learn more about HealthONE's cardiology or vascular services, call (303) 575-0055.

Cardiac care

Our heart programs include several distinct elements to ensure faster, better care:

• Our surgery centers participate in the Society of Thoracic Surgery’s National Database, a driver of quality improvement and patient safety among cardiothoracic surgical procedures.
• Our hospitals leverage an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cath lab direct protocol. It fast-tracks patients experiencing this very serious type of heart attack to treatment, eliminating extra time in the ER.
• We partner with the American College of Cardiology on their National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR), which sets national benchmarks for quality cardiovascular care and patient outcomes.

HealthONE is also proud to partner with the American Heart Association to promote heart healthy habits in Colorado and provide continuing medical education to physicians, nurses and emergency medical services (EMS) providers. As part of this commitment, we host annual preventive health education and screening events. Additionally, each of our hospitals has unique programs to support heart health in the community, such as:

• Partnering with cardiologists to present free patient seminars
• Providing free or low-cost cardiac screenings
• Sponsoring local health and wellness events

Diagnosing heart conditions

We use advanced heart screening and imaging diagnostics to help us identify heart health risks and detect problems in their early stages. This provides information doctors need to make the best treatment decision.

Our hospitals also include some of the most technologically advanced cardiac cath labs in Colorado, performing thousands of diagnostic heart catheterizations each year. These minimally invasive procedures look for blockages in heart arteries as well as assess valvular abnormalities.

Heart conditions we treat

We treat all conditions, disorders and diseases of the heart, including:

• Heart arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorders)—We operate the Rocky Mountain Heart Rhythm Institute—with program locations at The Medical Center of Aurora, Rose Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center. Here, we pioneer new minimally invasive approaches and research-driven procedures to achieve better outcomes for patients with arrhythmias.
• Heart attack—As a healthcare system, our "door-to-balloon" (treatment) time is less than 60 minutes. This is well below the national average and shows just how fast our ERs get heart attack patients the vital treatment they need.
• Heart failure—Our heart and vascular care network gives hope to patients suffering from advanced heart failure. We use medical management, the repair or replacement of a faulty heart valve, correction of an underlying heart rhythm disorder and devices designed to help the heart beat. This allows our team to achieve positive and life-prolonging outcomes for patients.

Treatments for heart problems

We strive to use less-invasive procedures, but are fully equipped and experienced in providing open surgical approaches if necessary. In these cases, our cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgeons achieve lifesaving results with some of the lowest complication rates in the state. In addition to general cardiology care and surgery, they can provide:

• Cardiothoracic surgery
• Electrophysiology
• Interventional cardiology
• Pediatric cardiology and surgery
• Thoracic surgery
• Vascular surgery

Some of the specific surgeries and procedures we offer include:

Cardiac Alert program

In a cardiac emergency, the faster the treatment, the more heart muscle is saved, and the higher the chances are for survival. In partnership with EMS, our hospitals, freestanding ERs and CareNow Urgent Care Centers participate in Cardiac Alert.

With Cardiac Alert training, EMS can better identify heart attack patients in the field and alert hospitals of their arrival. With the advanced notice that comes with this program, physicians and staff can expedite lifesaving treatment as soon as the patient arrives to the hospital.

Cardiac rehab and support

To ensure your heart stays healthy and strong, heart care with us continues long after treatment via our comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs. They focus on education, early recognition of symptoms, medication adjustments, nutrition, cardiovascular exercise, stress management and smoking cessation.

Our hospitals also provide education, prevention and rehabilitation services tailored to the specific needs of heart failure patients. And, in an effort to reduce readmission rates of heart failure patients, we fully participate in the American College of Cardiology’s Hospital to Home quality initiative.

Vascular care

Care and treatment for vascular conditions are offered at all six HealthONE hospital locations. In fact, our vascular surgery programs are known for leading the field in the diagnosis and management of vascular disease. This is, in part, because our fellowship-trained vascular surgeons use state-of-the-art technology to treat both common and rare disorders of the vascular system.

Common vascular diseases we diagnose and manage

Blockages caused by the buildup of plaque and cholesterol often affect the coronary arteries. However, these blockages can occur in all arteries in the body and have detrimental or damaging effects.

Vascular conditions we diagnose and treat include:

• Acute venous thrombosis and chronic venous insufficiency
• Aortic and thoracic diseases
• Atherosclerosis in aortic and its branches
• Blockages to arms
• Carotid artery disease
• Iliac disease
• May-Thurner syndrome
• Pelvic congestion syndrome
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)—also known as peripheral vascular disease
• Peripheral venous disease (PVD)
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Venous disease including laser and therapy for varicose veins
• Venous stasis ulcers

Diabetes and vascular disease

Although it is not a vascular disease, diabetes often leads to vascular damage and disease. This is because high blood glucose causes hardening of the arteries, which can lead to vascular and heart problems, such as heart attack or stroke. To help, we provide complete diabetes care and management, to help you mitigate the risks of vascular disease associated with this condition.

Treatment options for vascular diseases

Many of our vascular surgeries are endovascular, meaning they are minimally invasive. This generally leads to shorter recovery times and fewer potential complications.

Vascular treatment specialties we provide include:

• Carotid endarterectomy
• Interventions for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
• Minimally invasive aneurysm repair
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) drug therapy, balloon angioplasty, surgical revascularization and arterial stenting
• Pressure sensor implantation
• Thrombolytic therapy