喵咪社区

A new lab at 喵咪社区 Verdugo Hills Hospital uses diagnostic imaging tools and robotic technology to quickly treat critical cardiac cases. It’s the only such facility in Southern California.

The Interventional Radiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at is designed to provide quick, comprehensive emergency cardiovascular care 鈥� a critical option for nearby patients when every second counts.

The new facility, known as an IR/cath lab, serves two functions: First, it offers diagnostic tools to view a patient鈥檚 heart and identify cardiac abnormalities during a critical event.

The lab鈥檚 on-site interventional radiology team enables fast action via imaging tools such as X-ray, fluoroscopy, computerized tomography (CT), MRI or ultrasound.

The most important factor is the time of delivery of care.

Armand Dorian, MD, Chief Executive Officer, 喵咪社区 Verdugo Hills Hospital

Those insights allow doctors to guide small instruments through the blood vessels for lifesaving procedures, such as angioplasty or stenting 鈥� both of which previously could not be performed at 喵咪社区-VHH.

喵咪社区-VHH now offers the latest and best technology to deliver robotic-driven imaging and angioplasty. It is among only 20 hospitals nationwide and the first IR/cath lab in Southern California to utilize these tools.

Expert cardiac collaboration, quick care delivery

By ensuring that cardiac emergency patients can be treated without delay, the lab delivers 鈥渁n additional aspect of state-of- the-art care,鈥� says Vaughn Starnes, MD, executive director of the 喵咪社区 Cardiac and Vascular Institute.

The lab isn鈥檛 just for 喵咪社区-VHH doctors. Community physicians also have access, and it鈥檚 staffed by community specialists alongside 喵咪社区 cardiovascular physicians at 喵咪社区-VHH, who are available to offer academic medical expertise for complex cases.

鈥淭he most important factor is the time of delivery of care,鈥� says , chief executive officer and former chief medical officer of 喵咪社区-VHH.

For Sue Wilder, who co-chaired the lab鈥檚 fundraising committee with her husband, Steve, the mission is personal.

When her brother suffered a heart attack several years ago, the nearby hospital didn鈥檛 have an IR/cath lab to pinpoint the cause or determine the best course of action. She believes it could have saved his life.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I was passionate about getting a lab here at 喵咪社区-VHH,鈥� Wilder says.

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