Services at Benefis Heart and Vascular Institute cover the full range of care, from diagnosis and treatment to follow-up care and rehabilitation. You can count on expert care in each of these areas:
Cardiovascular Surgical Services
When surgery is the best option for a heart condition, you can count on the Benefis surgical team to provide top-notch care.
With some cardiovascular conditions, surgery is the most effective treatment option. Our team of surgeons, anesthetists, perfusionists, surgical nurses, and assistants are specifically trained for these specialized procedures. They are experienced in surgeries ranging from traditional bypass surgery to off-pump and minimally invasive procedures.
Cardiac Rhythm Management
We provide expert, comprehensive care for irregular heartbeats and other heart rhythm problems.
Our cardiac electrophysiologists diagnose and treat heart rhythm problems. They use the latest techniques, such as implanting pacemakers and internal cardiac defibrillators. Our registered nurses care for you after your procedure and follow up with ongoing monitoring to see how you are doing with your implant.
Invasive Cardiovascular Services
Our expert care and state-of-the-art equipment are ready 24/7 to treat problems with the heart’s arteries and other blood vessels.
Our interventional cardiologists are experts in diagnostic and interventional imaging procedures involving the arteries in the heart and peripheral vessels. They are ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency procedures. State-of-the-art equipment in our cardiac catheterization labs ensures the best possible outcomes.
Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Services
Our comprehensive tests and procedures diagnose a wide range of heart and vascular problems.
Electrocardiograms (ECG) and echocardiography help diagnose many heart problems. We also use outpatient cardiac monitoring, which uses small, portable devices to record your heart’s rhythm over time. These include Holter and arrhythmia loop monitors. Our echocardiographers also use a variety of additional procedures to diagnose abnormalities in the heart and vascular systems.
Stress Testing
Examining how the heart functions during exercise can help diagnose cardiac problems.
A cardiac stress test, also called a treadmill or exercise test, shows how your heart functions when it is stressed with a workload. Patients who can’t walk on the treadmill can use a medication to stress their heart in place of the exercise. We use nuclear medicine and echocardiography to enhance the findings. Stress tests can be done for outpatients as well as those in the hospital.
Progressive Cardiovascular Unit (PCVU)
Our patient-centered PCVU includes private rooms, state-of-the-art care, and a welcoming atmosphere.
If you are being treated for a heart condition or recovering from a procedure, you’ll stay in one of the comfortable, private rooms in our PCVU. This unit is designed to meet nearly every need, and we welcome family members to stay with you. Our cardiac nurses and physicians continuously monitor your vital signs with the state-of-the-art centralized monitoring system, which is so unobtrusive you may not be aware of it. Specially trained providers are dedicated to caring for your medical and emotional needs and to answering questions as they come up.
Interventional Radiology and Cardiac Catheterization
Minimally invasive procedures can be used to diagnose and treat many heart conditions.
Many cardiac procedures that once required traditional open surgery can now be done with small incisions that may not require stitches. In our Interventional Radiology Department, we use the latest imaging technologies to help us perform minimally invasive procedures such as angiography, biopsies, drainages, catheter/line placement, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and others.
Vascular Lab
We use the most advanced technologies to diagnose blood vessel conditions.
The Vascular Lab is a specially designed unit equipped to diagnose problems of the vascular system, such as peripheral vascular disease (PAD) and other conditions. Our expert staff uses the most advanced technologies to diagnose vascular disorders, and the results lead to effective treatments.
Testing in the Vascular Lab is typically non-invasive, safe, accurate, and relatively pain-free.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Planned exercise, counseling, and dietary coaching can greatly improve recovery after a heart attack or other heart problem.
People who have had a heart attack, heart surgery, or certain heart conditions can greatly improve their quality of life through cardiac rehabilitation. With our customized program, you will work with a trained exercise physiologist and cardiac rehab nurse to ensure the process meets your individual needs.
This medically supervised program includes:
- Progressive exercise training.
- Continuous cardiac monitoring during each exercise session.
- Counseling with therapists trained in helping heart patients.
- Nutritional counseling to establish a heart-healthy diet.
- Individual support to ensure the best outcomes.
Cardiac rehab helps you regain your strength and return to work and other activities. It also lowers the risks for future heart problems. You will need a referral from your doctor to participate in cardiac rehab.
