Top cardiac care to support your best heart health

You need top-quality care for your heart, and choosing a doctor who specializes in cardiology can be a big decision. How can you be sure that you’re getting the best possible care?

At the Regions Heart Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the choice is easy. Our team is made up of the best cardiologists and heart surgeons. You’ll get personalized cardiac care plans with everything from simple tests to complex surgery.

Our cardiologists will be by your side from your first appointment, throughout your recovery and through rehabilitation. We offer comprehensive prevention programs and cardiac rehabilitation to help you stay well and avoid future heart issues. If you’re ready to take charge of your heart health, it’s time to make an appointment at the Regions Heart Center.

When you come to the Regions Heart Center for cardiac care, you’ll meet with a cardiologist, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. We’ll take the lead on your heart care and create a treatment plan that is personalized to your specific needs. If additional support is needed, we’ll work closely with other doctors and specialists to ensure that everyone has the latest information about your health.

Depending on your heart issues, your care plan may include testing, medication, monitoring, a minor procedure or surgery. Common tests and treatments we use at the Regions Heart Center include:

Our cardiologists and heart specialists will keep a close eye on your cardiovascular health. With regular preventive screenings, we are more likely to detect a heart condition early, when it’s the most treatable. Common heart screenings include blood pressure monitoring, coronary artery calcium scores, cholesterol tests and stress tests.

In addition to screenings, we’ll also provide education and guidance around lifestyle changes you can make to improve or maintain your heart health.

In some cases, additional tests are needed to diagnose your heart condition. We perform comprehensive diagnostic testing and cardiac imaging, including:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan: This scan takes X-ray images of your heart and vascular system. It helps us notice buildup and other abnormalities inside your arteries. During a CT scan, you’ll lie on your back inside the CT machine while the X-ray source rotates around you.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): We can use magnets and radio waves to create a detailed picture of your heart. With an MRI, we can see the individual chambers of your heart and how your blood flows through the muscle.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG): An EKG measures the electric signals in your heart. It can tell us a lot about your heart’s rhythm, size and function. During an EKG, we’ll attach sensors (electrodes) to your chest and pulse points in your body to monitor your heart.
• Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound that uses sound waves to create a video of your heart. In many cases, we can take an echocardiogram by guiding an ultrasound wand over your chest. In some cases, we may need to get a closer look at your heart by guiding a catheter into your esophagus and sending ultrasound waves through the catheter. Your doctor will talk with you about the type of echocardiogram we recommend.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a type of treatment that uses exercise and education to strengthen your cardiovascular system after a heart attack or heart surgery. This treatment includes nutrition consultation, guided exercises, education about living a heart-healthy lifestyle and more. We’ll create a personalized rehabilitation plan for you.

We offer inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation services. Phase I of cardiac rehabilitation at Regions is offered to patients who are staying at the hospital. During your stay, we’ll guide you through twice-daily exercises in the hospital and help prepare you for discharge.

Depending on your condition, you may need outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. This is considered to be Phase II of cardiac rehabilitation, and it may be recommended if your doctor feels that guided exercises and additional care are needed as you recover.

Sometimes, surgery is the best course of treatment. If this is the case, we’ll guide you through the process. You’ll meet with your surgeon ahead of time. And the day before surgery, you’ll have a pre-op education session.

We’ll walk you through everything you can expect the day of your surgery. You’ll see what the pre-op area looks like, find out what to expect during recovery and have a chance to ask questions. You’ll also have your lab work done during this time. You’ll leave ready to face your surgery with confidence.

Our heart surgeons perform a wide range of heart surgeries, including:

• Adult congenital heart surgery
• Aneurysm repair
• Bypass surgeries
• Surgical procedures to implant devices, like pacemakers
• Valve repairs and replacements, including mitral valve repair

We use the latest heart surgery techniques, including minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR).