Heart Care

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Heart care at Northwest Health focuses on the functions and disorders of the heart and its connected circulatory system. According to the American Heart Association, 84 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, affecting blood flow throughout the body.

Taking good care of your heart can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease that leads to a heart attack, stroke or other serious complications. Our cardiac care teams provide a range of heart care services - from helping you create a heart-healthy lifestyle to performing lifesaving procedures in emergency situations.

Leading the way in heart care

Northwest Medical Center–Springdale was the first hospital in Northwest Arkansas to perform open-heart surgery as well as to achieve Cycle IV Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Primary PCI through the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). Northwest Medical Center–Bentonville has achieved the same accreditation, and both hospitals are now working towards the next levels of accreditation demonstrating Northwest Health’s continued commitment to your heart.

Northwest Medical Center-Springdale is also one of fewer than 50 U.S. hospitals that is part of the National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative (CSI), working with other major health systems to increase survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (AMICS). The National CSI is a single-arm, multi-center study designed to assess the feasibility of whether outcomes in cardiogenic shock can be improved by using standardized best practices including inserting a special heart pump to protect the patient during a percutaneous coronary intervention.

Our team

Under the medical direction of board-certified cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons, our specially trained nurses and technologists work collaboratively to help patients and their families feel comfortable, safe and informed during cardiac and vascular procedures.

Meet the Northwest Health Heart Care Team

You are our priority

Northwest Health is committed to providing compassionate and quality diagnostic and treatment services for people with cardiac and vascular disease. Through technological advances and standardized diagnostic and treatment programs, patients with symptoms of heart or vascular disease receive efficient and effective evaluation and rapid treatment. Our experienced, professional cardiovascular team cares for patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack as well as those needing routine diagnostic cardiac or vascular procedures. We also have programs to help patients achieve a healthy lifestyle and minimize or lower risks of these diseases.

Heart attack symptoms may include:

• Chest discomfort
• Discomfort in other areas such as the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Light-headedness
• Extreme weakness and fatigue

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 or seek medical attention immediately at the closest ER.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Northwest Health offers a cardiac rehabilitation program designed to enhance the quality of life for individuals who have experienced a cardiac event. Our team establishes individualized programs designed to help maximize the patient’s heart strength and live life more fully and confidently.

We provide patients with education on lifestyle changes to help manage stress, recognize warning signs of a cardiac event, reduce hypertension, maintain heart healthy nutrition and more.

Cardiac Calcium Scoring

Northwest Health provides cardiac calcium scoring, which is also known as a heart scan or calcium score. It’s a non-invasive CT scan of the heart used to calculate your risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) by measuring the amount of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are the vessels that supply oxygen containing blood to the heart. The plaque that may be found in these arteries is a build-up of fat, calcium and other substances that can either narrow or close the arteries. Some symptoms of plaque build-up in these arteries may be chest pain, arm tingle or back pain.

We provide patients with education on lifestyle changes to help manage stress, recognize warning signs of a cardiac event, reduce hypertension, maintain heart healthy nutrition and more.

Cardiac Services

• Cardiac catheterization (angiography)
• Cardiac stents
• Cardiac ultrasound and stress testing
• Cardioversion (for cardiac arrhythmia)
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram
• Electrophysiology studies
• Nuclear imaging
• Pacemaker and AICD insertions
• 24/7 cardiac catheterization lab

Vascular Services

• Abdominal aortic & Iliac artery aneurysm repair (open and endovascular techniques)
• Abdominal aortic & iliac artery stenosis
• Access graft angiography and intervention
• Carotid stents
• Lower and upper extremity revascularization
• Lower extremity angiogram and intervention
• Surgical dialysis access
• Surgical treatment of carotid artery disease
• Upper extremity angiogram and intervention
• Visceral artery angiogram and intervention
• Vascular trauma

Surgical Services

• Atrial fibrillation (MAZE)
• Cardiac valve repair and replacement
• Coronary artery bypass
• Epicardial pacemaker placement
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm repair (open and endovascular techniques)