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Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Laughlin Area Residents to Have Convenient Access to Cardiology Services

UMC Laughlin Care Center began scheduling appointments for cardiac care on Feb. 17

Laughlin, Nev. – On Friday, Feb. 17, residents of Laughlin and the surrounding areas began accessing cardiology assessment and consultation services at the University Medical Center (UMC) Laughlin Care Center, located at 150 Bruce Woodbury Drive.

UMC and the Heart Center of Nevada, a well-established cardiology practice in Las Vegas, will initially offer cardiac services every other week with plans to increase frequency as the number of patients increases.

About 60 million Americans currently live with cardiovascular disorders. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for all people in the United States.

“Prevention, early detection and appropriate treatment of cardiovascular conditions are vital to sustaining life, increasing good health and maintaining an active lifestyle,” said Dr. Mark Taylor, UMC’s cardiac catheterization laboratory director.

Dr. Taylor, leading a group of cardiologists treating Laughlin patients, will be providing consultation and assessment. When a stress test or other measurements indicate that the patient’s condition requires special treatment or hospitalization, the cardiology center will work with the UMC hospital in Las Vegas to facilitate proper treatment.

The overall cardiac program will be under the umbrella of UMC’s Cardiology Center of Excellence, headed by Dr. Muhammad A. Bhatti, director of cardiovascular services.

Dr. Taylor said, “Directing patients with specific cardiac needs to UMC provides the best medical care for the patient and complies with the recent guidelines of the American College of Cardiology, which require cardiovascular surgical backup to perform cardiac procedures in order to provide adequate care during an emergency.”

“There is a one in 500 chance of requiring surgical intervention during an angioplasty, for example, but it is comforting for doctors and patients to know that it is available if needed,” Dr. Taylor added. An angioplasty is the general term used to describe a procedure for treating blockages or blood clots.

The coordination between the UMC hospital and the Laughlin Care Center will also provide continuity in care because the same team of doctors will oversee the patient’s progress and recovery. Doctors can also view radiology and cardiology exams digitally from the hospital and the Care Center without having to transfer a patient’s exam files, speeding the examination process. This is possible due to UMC’s advanced Picture Archive Communications Systems, or PACS, technology, which records images digitally in real time on a computer network accessible to UMC physicians.

Having the clinic in Laughlin will also be convenient for patients who have to undergo post-intervention or follow-up visits because they won’t have to travel far to get the quality attention they need.

Patients can schedule appointments for cardiac care at the Laughlin Care Center by calling
(702) 298-3364.

Contact Information:
Cheryl Persinger , Public Relations Manager
(702) 383-2090
Cheryl.Persinger@umcsn.com
University Medical Center
1800 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102