|
Seamless Care Our pediatricians, cardiovascular surgeons, cardiac and intensive care nurses, technical and support staff, and rehabilitation specialists work together as a highly coordinated unit, so patients receive seamless care where no details are overlooked. They perform hundreds of procedures and surgeries every year, so patients' care is always in the hands of well practiced experts. In 1998, an independent, objective health care evaluation (adjusted for demographic risk factors) found that heart patients treated at BCH had the lowest mortality rate in Colorado. Standards for Care The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have determined that for a cardiac cath lab to meet the highest standards for safe care, the facility needs to perform at least 200 coronary interventions per year. High Volume Cath Lab Boulder Community is proud that it far exceeds this standard. In 2001, our cardiac catheterization team performed 833 coronary interventional procedures such as balloon angioplasties, stenting and rotablators. Additionally, the team performed more than 3,040 catheterizations on patients to diagnose the extent of their heart disease. 
Successful Surgeries Our open heart surgery team is also extremely proficient, performing more than 250 operations each year—coronary bypasses, heart valve repairs and replacement, correction of congenital heart defects and other procedures. The open heart team also fills a critical role, providing surgical back-up for cardiac catheterization patients who may require emergency surgery. Staying Abreast of Medical Breakthroughs BCH cardiologists are leaders in implanting tiny stainless steel stents to keep damaged arteries open. They use advanced intravascular ultrasound to help diagnose blocked arteries, and they are now using the innovative rotational atherectomy technique to pulverize harmful plaque and bloodclots in the bloodstream. They also use an AngioJet, which uses water under high pressure to clear clot from coronary arteries. Our cardiologists successfully treat a number of heart conditions with powerful medications and teach patients the latest guidelines on exercise and diet. Return to Top
|