By Anna Skinner
Since June, Riverview Health in Noblesville has offered a resource to heart health that not many other hospitals can provide.
Riverview Health Heart & Vascular added on to the cardiovascular suite of the hospital, installing a new, enhanced cath lab. This lab provides ample space and technology to accommodate surgeons and anesthesiologists in case a cardiovascular procedure turns surgical. A wider variety of procedures can also be performed by this enhanced cath lab.
Tammi Nash, clinical operations director at Riverview Health said, “We implemented and brought this lab in just because of the growth in vascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the country. So, we have a very strong cardiac program. It helps increase the type of procedures we can do with our cardiovascular surgeons and the complexity of those procedures.”
The decision for construction began about two years ago with planning stages and site visits at different hospitals. Then, last year, Riverview decided which equipment and accessories were necessary. Construction began in December.
On July 9, Mayor John Ditslear attended a personal tour to see the lab and equipment.
“It’s a very unique situation,” he said. “Riverview Health has done a great job here, and it’s something to be proud of. It’s a step forward here for modern technology.”
“This technology is not in any other lab in the Indianapolis area, it allows us to do complex procedures that other hospitals can’t do,” said Angie Bolinger, manager of cardiology at Riverview Health. “We are being used as a model so other people can come and see the design of our lab.”
Ditslear proclaimed July 9 as “Riverview Health Heart & Vascular Day.”
