Call 334-747-4444 for a physician referral.Services
Your heart may be the most important muscle in your body. Without proper care, you cannot fully live your best life. At Baptist Health, we are here to help you, by pairing cutting-edge heart and vascular technology with compassionate care.
Our specially-trained cardiovascular team is ready to serve with four state-of-the-art digital Catheterization Labs, a dedicated 16-bed pre/post-Cardiovascular Recovery Unit, a 10-bed CICU, a 21-bed Cardiology unit, a 12-bed CVICU, a 20-bed CVSU step down unit and Cardiac Rehabilitation.
We provide patients with a continuum of care not offered anywhere else in Central Alabama. We offer a full array of state-of-the-art procedures, both diagnostic and therapeutic, including:
- Cardiac catheterization and angiography
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (angioplasty, drug-eluting stents, thrombectomy, and atherectomy)
- Intravascular ultrasound
- Intravascular pressure analysis
- Peripheral angiography and intervention, to include the newest laser technology (carotid, renal, and extremities)
- Echo-cardiography
- Nuclear medicine stress testing
- Cardiac CT angiography
- Cardiac rhythm management (permanent pacemakers, intracardiac defibrillators, bi-ventricular pacing)
- Electro physiology testing
- Radiofrequency ablation
Cardiac Catheterization
Located in the Cardiovascular Care Center at Baptist South and accredited by the American College of Cardiology, the lab is staffed with registered nurses and registered cardiovascular technologists, all with advanced training in cardiac and vascular disease and procedural processes.
How can the cardiac catheterization lab care for me?
We provide patients with a continuum of care not offered anywhere else in Central Alabama. We offer a full array of state-of-the-art procedures, both diagnostic and therapeutic, including:
Non-Invasive
- EKG
- Echocardiography (Transthoracic & TEE)
- Fluoroscopy
- Cardioversion
- Tilt Table Studies
- Cardiac Stress Testing
- Nuclear Cardiac Stress Testing
Invasive
- Left Heart Catheterization
- Left and Right Heart Catheterization
- Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
- Peripheral Vascular Angiography
- Peripheral Vascular Intervention
- Chronic Total Occlusion
- Electrophysiology (Diagnostic & Therapeutic)
- Device Implantation
- Pacemaker
- Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator
- Laser Lead Extraction
- Carotid Stenting
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Placement
- Left Atrial Appendage Closure (Watchman)
Cardiac Rehab
We are committed to not only ensuring successful cardiovascular surgeries but also rehabilitating you to full health after surgery. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program of Baptist Medical Center South is your home for full Cardiac Rehabilitation. Call (334) 747-3410 to learn more.
Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to improve a cardiac patient’s function—physical, psychological and social.
Baptist Health Cardiac Rehabilitation program has been in operation since 1979. We take a team approach which includes the referring physician, dietitian, pharmacy staff, diabetic educator, Cardiac Rehabilitation nurses, exercise physiologists, and you. You are the most important part. The involvement of these professionals is evidence of our commitment to providing the highest quality care for each patient and his or her family. But it’s you who truly benefits from the robust team approach.
You will engage in a supervised exercise program while on a heart monitor. Licensed staff members are available at all times in the event you need emergency medical treatment. So you have nothing to fear–we’re here while you push yourself to do your best and improve your heart function at each session.
- Strengthening and conditioning of your heart and lungs
- Controlling your weight
- Lowering your total cholesterol levels
- Understanding your medications
- Recognizing signs and symptoms of heart disease and when to seek medical attention
- Providing emotional support for you and your family
The duration of your visits will depend on your risk factors and the assessment done by the cardiac rehabilitation staff. Most patients usually qualify for 12-36 visits. The time allowed to complete these sessions is usually dictated by your insurance company.
Since 1998, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) has certified programs in order to recognize programs that were meeting the standards put forth in the published Guidelines for Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program of Baptist Medical Center South has met strict standards and has been awarded certification through the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Entrance to the program will require a physician referral. If you feel you could benefit from our services, discuss the program with your physician and request a referral.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Each person has unique health needs—and heart and lung care at Baptist Health is customized to meet your specific needs.
Dedicated Experience
Baptist Health and the UAB Multispecialty Clinic have over 25 years of dedicated cardiothoracic surgery experience. We specialize in surgical techniques of the heart and lungs and perform cutting-edge minimally invasive procedures. Our cardiothoracic surgeons specialize in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest.
Our team’s clinical interests include adult valve repair and replacement and completing the Carpentier Mitral Valve course among other advanced procedures. We have extensive experience with mitral and aortic diseases, including surgical repair of aortic dissection.
Conditions Treated
- Abnormal enlargement or aneurysms of the large arteries in the chest
- Atrial fibrillation
- Blockages in the heart arteries
- Cardiac tumors and valve disease
- Collapsed lungs
- Coronary artery disease or blockages of the arteries in the heart
- Heart failure
- Leaking heart valve(s)
- Lung cancer diagnosing via biopsy and tumor removal
- Mediastinal masses
Procedures Offered
- Aortic aneurysm, Aortic dissection, and Tricuspid valve repair
- Aortic valve replacement
- Atrial fibrillation surgery
- Coronary artery bypass
- Lobectomies
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Mitral valve repair
- TAVR
- Thoracoscopic surgery
Heart and Vascular Surgery
Tiny highways to your heart
Your blood vessels are tiny highways within your body–your veins and arteries carrying the oxygen-rich blood all over your circulatory system and back to your heart. If your blood doesn’t flow smoothly, your body can’t work correctly. When a condition such as hardening of arteries occurs, it causes your blood to “stop up” or “jam,” causing problems. The good news is often many vascular problems can be treated with medication or exercise. Some require surgery; if that’s the case, we’re here to help.
Our high-tech vascular care services at Baptist Medical Center South provide patients with a continuum of care not offered anywhere else in Central Alabama. We offer a full array of state-of-the-art invasive and noninvasive procedures, both diagnostic and therapeutic.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm — When the wall of a blood vessel weakens, a dilation called an aneurysm can develop.
- Carotid Artery Disease — If too much plaque builds up in your carotid artery, it can cause the artery to narrow.
- Dialysis Access — If your kidneys fail, unless and until you have a successful kidney transplant, you will need dialysis.
- Peripheral Artery Disease — PAD is a chronic disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries of the legs.
- Varicose Veins — Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are visible through the skin.
Recovery
At Baptist Health, we are committed to not only ensuring successful cardiovascular surgeries but also rehabilitating you to full health after surgery. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program of Baptist Medical Center South has met the Guidelines for Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation and has been awarded certification through the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. For more information about Cardiac Rehabilitation, call (334) 286-3410.