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Cardiology

Cardiologists in Southeast Idaho

The specialists at Portneuf Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Institute provide comprehensive cardiovascular services for complex heart and vascular conditions. Our team of heart specialists is dedicated to providing a full spectrum of heart care, from preventive measures like heart screenings to minimally invasive procedures and cardiothoracic surgery treatments. We also offer cardiac rehabilitation services to help you heal after a heart attack or serious diagnosis. As an accredited Chest Pain Center, our cardiology department is here to ensure you receive timely and effective care tailored to your unique needs.

The Heart and Vascular Institute

At Portneuf Heart & Vascular Institute, our cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons provide high quality care you can depend on. Our heart and Vascular Institute has many separate units that work together to ensure you receive comprehensive care. Our center features a Level II trauma center, hybrid operating rooms, cardiovascular and ICU care units, state-of-the-art cardiac cath labs, and a spacious cardiac rehabilitation center.

Using leading-edge technology, our specialized team offers the most advanced treatments in cardiac medicine. We provide care for a wide range of heart and vascular conditions, including:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysms
  • Aortic valve stenosis
  • Angina
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Congenital heart defects
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Heart failure
  • Mesenteric insufficiency
  • Peripheral arterial disease
  • Phlebitis
  • Regurgitation and stenosis of the heart valves
  • Spider and varicose vein treatment
  • Stroke 
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysms

Cardiac treatments

Interventional cardiology is a branch of cardiology that deals with the catheter-based treatment of structural heart diseases. Many procedures can be performed on the heart by catheterization. Our services at the Heart and Vascular Institute are wide and varied. We utilize the latest technology and techniques to ensure the highest quality of care. Some of our services include:

  • Aneurysm repair
  • Angioplasty (including coronary)
  • Coronary artery bypass grafting
  • Eectrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)
  • Electrophysiology services
  • Holter and event monitoring
  • Pacemaker implantation
  • Laser vein treatment
  • Mitral valve repair/replacement (MVR)
  • Nuclear stress testing
  • Spider/varicose vein treatment
  • Stress echocardiography
  • Tilt table studies
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
  • Watchman device implantation

No matter your needs, the team at the Heart and Vascular Institute is committed to providing personalized, compassionate care to help you achieve optimal heart health. Trust our experienced heart specialists to support you every step of the way on your journey to better cardiovascular wellness.

Heart screening and imaging

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the #1 cause of death for both men and women. But there’s good news: it can be treated if caught early. And one of the best and easiest preventive tests for your heart is a heart screening. Regular heart screenings can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease by identifying problems early. 

There are different heart screenings designed to detect potential heart issues before they occur. Your cardiologist will help you determine which imaging test is right for you. Download our heart screening referral form and stay proactive with your heart health. Schedule a heart screening today!

Vein care at The Idaho Vein Center

Our Heart and Vascular Institute works with the Idaho Vein Center to provide you with comprehensive vascular services. Equipped with both a procedure room and an imaging suite, the Idaho Vein Center provides all diagnostics and treatments on-site, making caring for your health simple. Not only do we offer routine leg screenings and removal of varicose and spider veins, but we are able to diagnose and treat major vein problems like deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Heart Failure Clinic

If you have heart failure, your treatment plan should be designed to help prevent your condition from getting worse, control your symptoms, and ensure you have the best quality of life possible. Our Heart Failure clinic offers a patient-focused environment that provides state-of-the-art care for adults with heart failure using evidence-based therapies.

Every patient receives individualized testing and treatment to best meet their needs. Our providers and clinical RN’s make sure patients are taking the correct types of medications needed to keep their heart from getting worse, avoid hospitalization and reduce their risk of dying. Our nurses and cardiac rehabilitation team help patients understand and plan their diet, exercise and lifestyle changes so that they can control heart failure symptoms and enjoy as many regular activities as possible.

The Watchman procedure

Atrial Fibrillation (also known as Afib) is a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart related complications. Previously, the only option to prevent a stroke with atrial fibrillation was taking blood thinners and other medication to help control the heart rate during atrial fibrillation. The Watchman Procedure is a new treatment procedure to help patients suffering from atrial fibrillation (Afib) reduce their risk of stroke and eliminate the need for blood thinning medications.

How it Works:

The Watchman procedure begins with a small incision in the upper leg, where a catheter is inserted into the body through the femoral vein. Next, the Watchman device is guided to the left side of the heart, and then to the left atrial appendage, where the device will be placed. The area is measured and then the correct sized device is precisely placed and anchored. Once in place, the device will seal off the left atrial appendage, preventing future blood clots.

Most patients will stay one night in the hospital and continue on blood thinners for 45 days while tissue begins to grow over the device to form a barrier against blood clots.

Are you interested in learning more about the Watchman procedure? Request a referral through your primary care physician or primary cardiologist today!

Cardiothoracic surgery

At Portneuf Medical Center, we offer some of the most advanced and innovative surgical options for patients with life-threatening heart conditions and diseases. Our experienced cardiothoracic surgeons have helped to make us the first choice for heart care in the region, offering services like traditional open-heart surgery, minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery.

Accredited Chest Pain Center

Portneuf Medical Center has received accreditation for our Chest Pain Center from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), an international organization dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide. Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a high level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack.

To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, PMC engaged in a meticulous evaluation by the SCPC for the ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. Our cardiology program proved to be exceptional in the following ways:

  • Monitoring patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack to ensure that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital
  • Treating patients more efficiently during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved
  • Shorter time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment

The Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC) is an international not-for-profit organization whose mission is to transform cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their effort to create communities of excellence that bring together quality, cost and patient satisfaction. For more information on SCPC, accreditation and certification opportunities, visit www.scpcp.org, or call toll free 1-877-271-4176.