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A new cath lab has opened at Jefferson Memorial. This facility will improve community access to heart care. They celebrated this new opening with a ribbon cutting on Thursday along with the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce.

Many of our friends and neighbor’s hearts will beat stronger thanks to new access to cardiac services and procedures.

After much planning and preparation, Jefferson Memorial Hospital opened its cardiac catheterization lab in May of 2023.

A cardiac catheterization is a procedure used to check the condition of the heart and blockages in the heart arteries. The procedure is performed from the groin or wrist with a thin hollow tube guided to the heart and arteries, where they are seen by injecting contrast under live X-ray pictures. It can provide information about the condition of the heart and performance measurements.

When a severe blockage is discovered during the catheterization, the physician opens the blocked arteries with a balloon or a stent, which is a metal scaffold to keep the artery open. Patients who need a stent are monitored closely and often go home that same day.

Board-certified interventional cardiologists on the medical staff at Jefferson Memorial are available to provide care to patients in the cardiac catheterization lab, bringing a much-needed service to the Jefferson County community.

“I’m humbled and excited by the opportunity to help build a catheterization program from the ground up,” said Ben Ridder, Tennova Healthcare – Jefferson CEO. “This is a huge step in providing comprehensive and expeditious cardiac care to our patients in the area. If you are having a heart attack, ‘time is muscle!’ If blood flow is not quickly restored to your heart, you could suffer irreversible damage. The sooner we can treat you, the better the chance for recovery and your future quality of life.”

Prior to the launch of the cath lab, patients who presented at Jefferson Memorial’s Emergency Department in need of cardiac catheterization services were transferred by ambulance 35-45 miles away. Offering this service at Jefferson Memorial provides patients with access to timelier cardiac care, which will promote better clinical outcomes.

“Cardiac care at Jefferson Memorial has entered into a new era; the teamwork between EMS, the Emergency Department, Nursing, Administration, physicians and post-cardiac care teams have fostered truly patient-centered, quality care,” Dr. Pragnesh Patel, Tennova Healthcare cardiologist said.