In the News : About Us : Cardiac Surgery Group

Cardiac Surgery Group
St. Joseph Medical Pavilion
1802 S. Yakima
Suite 102
Tacoma, WA 98405
Get Driving Directions!

(253) 272-7777 Tel
(253) 383-9109 Fax
info@nwheartcenter.com

In the News: Lakewood Journal (June 23, 2000)

New heart attack treatment center open now

By Steve Dunkelberger, Editor

Few local folks realize they essentially live in heart attack alley.

Large numbers of retirees and people subject to high stress live in Lakewood, Steilacoom, DuPont and on the military bases. It seems no wonder, then, that Lakewood's St. Clare Hospital is patched into one of the highest tech cardiac facilities in the nation.

The newly opened, state-of-the-art heart treatment center is located at St. Clare's sister facility, St. Joseph's Medical Center in Tacoma. Both hospitals are part of the Franciscan Health System, a branch of the Catholic Health Care Initiatives, one of the largest non-profit medical systems in the nation. The new facility includes three catherization labs, two new operating rooms and a reception area. The center will get more high-tech equipment next spring. It's the first hospital to get the new equipment in the Northwest.

The Advantx LC+ from General Electrics is the heart of the cardiac care facility and is one of only a few such cardiac imaging systems in the nation. The massive machine allows cardiologists to view pictures of heart blockage. Doctors use the images to best assess the condition and treatment plan. The digital x-ray equipment provides clearer images than traditional film x-rays, as well as video monitors for viewing outside the surgical room.

It's no accident that such cutting-edge cardiac equipment can be found locally.

"It's a response to the demand from the population," said St. Clare Emergency Room physician Ian Cowan, M.D.

The nation's population is getting older and less healthy. The rate of heart attacks keep going up as those factors rise.

"It's just a feature of modern life," Cowan said.

In response to the increase in heart attacks and heart disease related conditions, St. Clare developed a treatment system that provides one of the quickest "door to drug times" in the nation.

The hospital achieves the quick time with good paramedics, doctors and the strong nursing staff working as a treatment team throughout the process. More severe cases find themselves moved to St. Joseph for more in-depth treatment for their heart condition. That's where the high-tech equipment comes into service.

"It is kind of mind boggling to see what we can do with machines," Cowan said. "But people also want the human touch and want to be cared for. That will, fortunately, never go away."