Advances in Technology

The Cardiac Catheterization Lab
at Winter Haven Hospital

Heart disease. Number one killer of men and women in the USA.…in Florida….in Polk County….in every community within Polk County. Despite aggressive research, new treatments, enhanced technologies and new & improved medications, heart disease continues to wreak havoc in the lives of its victims as well as their families and friends.

Winter Haven Hospital’s constant focus is that of fulfilling its organizational mission: "To improve the health of the communities we serve by providing high quality, cost-effective care and services." As part of that focus, we are aggressively seeking and preparing to provide eastern Polk County with comprehensive cardiovascular services—currently not immediately available to east Polk communities. As our organization pursues and plans for providing these additional cardiac services—such as angioplasty, stents, and adult open heart surgery—Winter Haven Hospital continues to proactively evaluate its existing cardiovascular services. In response to those assessments, our health service organization is in the process of upgrading and expanding current services and facilities for patients undergoing cardiac procedures.

Since its August 1988 inception, Winter Haven Hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory has performed over 17,000 angiograms (or "heart catheterizations"), elevating the cardiovascular status of citizens and visitors throughout eastern Polk County and surrounding communities. As part of our preparation for providing more comprehensive cardiac services, Winter Haven Hospital has begun a proactive evaluation of its existing tests and procedures that aid in diagnosing and treating heart disease.

A New Digital Archive System

Historically, a heart catheterization was recorded in the form of an "x-ray movie". Footage was shot with x-ray equipment onto traditional x-ray film, much like a conventional camera takes pictures. After completion of the procedure, the film had to be processed—again, like the film processing required to obtain your vacation photos. Not a very efficient or convenient process—and one that carried risks of damaging or destroying the film! With our new digital archiving system, the footage of the coronary arteries taken by the physician is automatically converted into a digital format—much like you now take your vacation pictures with a new digital camera…rather than with your old Kodak! And, like digital pictures (which can be viewed almost instantly), the digital images recorded during the procedure are sent to a computer "viewing station" where physicians can review the entire case immediately. Additionally, as with photos from a digital camera, digital cath images tend to be crisper and clearer—mandatory qualities when performing interventional procedures like balloon angioplasties and stent placement. All of these factors ultimately enhance and facilitate a quicker diagnosis for our patients and families. This new digital system also enables film to be sent via the Internet to consulting physicians (i.e., when a second opinion is needed)—rather than being overnighted by Federal Express as was previously required to transport cath films. Finally, the digital format enables a patient’s file to be "burned" onto a CD—enabling easy transport and communication to patients and other physicians. (The software necessary to open and view the heart catheterization is loaded onto the disk with the patient’s file, enabling access on any computer that has been given appropriate access.) Even though technology is utilized, patients confidentiality is always protected.

Implantations of permanent pacemakers and internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs)

in the Cath Lab

Historically, the insertion of pacemakers and internal cardiac defibrillators ICDs (small pacemaker-like devices that are programmed to automatically deliver shocks when it senses a life-threatening rhythm.) has always been performed as a surgical procedure in one of Winter Haven Hospital’s operating rooms. However, in reviewing this practice, several benefits were identified that motivated our cardiovascular staff to move this service to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab—which provides equally sterile conditions required for the procedure. One of the first benefits is the significantly shorter length of stay in the hospital. This enables them to return home more quickly to loved ones, and results in a reduction of their charges for hospital stay—both very important patient satisfiers. Second, the Catheterization Lab is able to be more flexible with scheduling than the operating suite is —a big plus for the physician, the patient and the family. Following an intensive training regimen, which included educational opportunities as far away as Minnesota, the Cardiac Catheterization Lab staff began assisting physicians with implanting pacemakers in June, 2001. They eventually expanded their services to implanting ICDs. Winter Haven Hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab has implanted over 300 pacemakers and almost twenty ICDs to date with with tremendous patient and physician satisfaction.

Expansion of the Electrophysiology (E.P.) Program, including RF Ablation (Radio Frequency Ablation)

An electrophysiology study (EPS) is performed to diagnose certain irregular heartbeats and/or rhythms. It commonly helps to identify patients who need a pacemaker, certain types of medications, and/or an ICD, in order to control their arrhythmia. Many times these can be life-threatening. Their diagnosis along with identifying the appropriate treatment(s) can save the patient’s life. In this situation one treatment that might be indicated is RF Ablation. This is a non-surgical procedure in which a long flexible wire is passed into the heart to destroy—or "ablate"—the precise area of heart tissue causing the arrhythmia. RF Ablation has a success rate of greater than 95% in certain types of abnormally fast ("tachy") heart rhythms. Following the vast majority of ablations in these cases, no further medications are needed. In previous years patients at Winter Haven Hospital have been able to undergo EPS, but had to be transferred to another facility for ablation. However, in response to the growing need, a new EP and Ablation system was purchased in March, 2002. This system is one of the best available incorporating the latest technological advances in EP testing. The equipment has enabled Winter Haven Hospital to take an additional step forward in providing high quality cardiovascular services to patients in the communities it serves.

Additional Cardiac Facility

Renovations & Equipment Enhancement

In order to proactively maintain/enhance quality and technology, renovations are underway in the Winter Haven Cardiac Catheterization Lab. These renovations will ultimately result in one completely refurbished room and the addition of two new rooms. In addition to construction costs, Winter Haven Hospital has committed $1.5 million for equipment to complete the project. This will provide patients, physicians and staff with state-of-the-art rooms and cutting-edge technology for continuation of current services (heart catheterizations, pacemaker & ICD insertions, EPS, and ablations). In addition, because of the new state-of-the-art equipment, the Catheterization Lab is now poised to expand its services to include peripheral angiograms (a technique that evaluates the major blood vessels in the legs, kidneys, and/or carotid arteries for blockages) as well as other interventions Finally, with the new facility expansion and new equipment, Winter Haven Hospital is positioned to easily integrate cardiac interventions—angioplasty, stents, laser therapy, angiojet, atherectomy, etc.—as part of our services we provide to patients.

Preparation for

Interventional Cardiology

The Winter Haven Catheteriztion Lab is currently preparing for the time that our facility is approved to begin providing comprehensive cardiac services. Besides the physical resources (renovations and equipment), we are preparing to provide advanced medical human resources as well! A plan has been established for the comprehensive training of each staff member, including measures such as an on-site clinical specialist as well as sending staff to other benchmark facilities where they will obtain "hands-on" training and expertise in these procedures.

Winter Haven Hospital is committed to provide the very best level of care for the people it serves. As part of our commitment, we are moving to establish a comprehensive continuum of cardiovascular services. Special thanks goes to the Winter Haven Hospital Auxiliary for their support of this endeavor - and their pledge to contribute $250,000 over the next few years towards the Catheterization Lab project. Commitments like that - will ultimately provide the citizens of eastern Polk County and the surrounding communities with the high quality, comprehensive cardiovascular services they deserve.