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When Minutes Matter: Our Emergency Heart Protocol.

Often, the first indication of heart disease is a heart attack. That's why Dignity Health's comprehensive heart care program springs into action the moment you arrive in our emergency room. We rapidly assess your condition and immediately initiate the necessary cardiac diagnostic services. In the event of a A ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), a severe type of heart attack where a coronary artery is completely blocked, causing significant damage to the heart muscle, you will be quickly transferred to our state-of-the-art cardiac cath lab for an angioplasty, where blocked arteries are opened using a small balloon.

Our commitment to prompt, life-saving care aligns with the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association's recommendation of a 'door-to-balloon' time of less than 90 minutes.

Dignity Health Arizona Heart Services

Comprehensive Vascular Services

Your vascular system (veins, arteries, and blood vessels) is vital for blood circulation. Vascular disease occurs when these vessels are blocked, weakened, or damaged, disrupting blood flow. Conditions span from common spider veins to life-threatening blood clots or chronic issues.

At Dignity Health, our interventional cardiovascular team diagnoses and treats a wide spectrum of acute and chronic venous and arterial diseases, providing comprehensive care to restore and maintain your vascular health.

Comprehensive Vascular Services

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is an evidence-based program proven to improve outcomes for heart patients through positive health choices. It supports recovery, reduces cardiovascular disease risk, and boosts overall health and well-being.

If you are high-risk for or diagnosed with heart disease, take action to prevent future problems. Your cardiologist or primary care doctor can refer you to our Cardiac Rehabilitation Department.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

If you are high-risk for or diagnosed with heart disease, take action to prevent future problems. Your cardiologist or primary care doctor can refer you to our Cardiac Rehabilitation Department.

Cardiac Electrophysiology for Arrhythmias

If you have symptoms like heart fluttering, irregular beats, dizziness, or shortness of breath, you may have an arrhythmia. Your doctor might refer you to a cardiac electrophysiologist.

Dignity Health's electrophysiology specialists diagnose and treat diverse heart rhythm issues. Our goal is to reduce symptoms, boost quality of life, and lower complication risks, potentially even resolving complex problems like AFib. Services include:

Electrophysiology (EP) Studies: Detailed mapping of your heart's electrical activity.
Catheter Ablations: Procedures to correct faulty electrical pathways.
Pacemakers & Defibrillators: Devices to regulate heart rate and prevent dangerous rhythms.
Loop Recorders: Small, implantable devices for long-term heart monitoring.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT/Biventricular) Implantations: Advanced pacing for heart failure.
Tilt Table Testing: To evaluate causes of fainting or lightheadedness.

Cardiac Electrophysiology for Arrhythmias

If you have symptoms like heart fluttering, irregular beats, dizziness, or shortness of breath, you may have an arrhythmia. Your doctor might refer you to a cardiac electrophysiologist.

Electrophysiology (EP) Studies: Detailed mapping of your heart's electrical activity.
Catheter Ablations: Procedures to correct faulty electrical pathways.
Pacemakers & Defibrillators: Devices to regulate heart rate and prevent dangerous rhythms.
Loop Recorders: Small, implantable devices for long-term heart monitoring.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT/Biventricular) Implantations: Advanced pacing for heart failure.
Tilt Table Testing: To evaluate causes of fainting or lightheadedness.

Cardiac Imaging

Cardiovascular imaging is used to evaluate and aid in diagnosing cardiac issues or concerns. Care providers frequently request diagnostic testing to gather more information about specific cardiac or vascular disease symptoms.

Main types of cardiac imaging:

Echocardiogram (Echo)
Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT Scan)
Nuclear Cardiac Stress Test
Coronary Angiogram, Cardiac MRI
Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

Cardiac Imaging

Main types of cardiac imaging:

Echocardiogram (Echo)
Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT Scan)
Nuclear Cardiac Stress Test
Coronary Angiogram, Cardiac MRI
Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

Interventional Cardiology

Interventional procedures are minimally invasive, catheter-based treatment options for cardiology conditions throughout the body. That means, they do not require open surgery. Minimally invasive cardiology treatments have many benefits, including:

Shorter hospital stays
Faster recoveries
Less pain
Better patient outcomes

Interventional Cardiology

Shorter hospital stays
Faster recoveries
Less pain
Better patient outcomes

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA): Innovative AFib Treatment

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) affects millions, increasing risks of stroke, heart failure, and other severe cardiac issues. Timely treatment is crucial.

Dignity Health offers Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA), an innovative, FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure for AFib. Unlike traditional thermal ablation, PFA uses precise pulsed electrical fields delivered via a catheter to interrupt irregular heart pathways. Its key advantage is precision, isolating pulmonary veins while potentially reducing impact on healthy tissues, offering safer and more effective AFib treatment.

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA): Innovative AFib Treatment

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) affects millions, increasing risks of stroke, heart failure, and other severe cardiac issues. Timely treatment is crucial.

A Woman's Heart: Different Risks, Different Approach

For too long, heart disease has been mistakenly perceived as primarily a man's issue. However, the reality is stark: heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., surpassing all forms of cancer. Tragically, more women die from heart disease each year than men.

Historically, the symptoms of heart disease have been largely defined by male experiences, leading to a critical issue: women are more likely to dismiss or overlook the symptoms they do experience. This delay in seeking care can have severe consequences.

While the typical warning signs of a heart attack can include pressure or squeezing in the chest, pain in one or both arms, or shortness of breath, women often experience these differently or present with more subtle symptoms such as:

Back (upper), neck or jaw pain
Chest pain (not always present)
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Nausea or vomiting
Indigestion
Pain or pressure in the lower chest or upper abdomen
Shortness of breath
Unusual or extreme fatigue

At Dignity Health, we understand that women's heart health demands a specialized and attentive approach. Our dedicated team of cardiologists and care professionals partner with you to proactively manage and prevent heart disease. We focus on addressing your unique concerns and identifying specific warning signs, ensuring early diagnosis and personalized treatment that truly reflects your needs.

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Comprehensive Support for Your Heart Health Journey

At Dignity Health, we offer specialized programs and resources tailored to empower you in managing your heart health. Here's how we can help:

Personalized Assessment: Our expert cardiologists and care team will work closely with you to understand your individual heart disease risk profile, focusing on factors unique to women. Together, they'll help you and your physician create a personalized plan for prevention and improved heart health. Take the Heart Health Quiz
Recognizing Warning Signs: It's crucial to understand the early indicators of heart disease, especially those women may experience differently. The Dignity Health Cardiologists will guide you on how to recognize these vital warning signs so you can seek timely care. Discover How to Identify Heart Disease Symptoms
Lifestyle & Wellness Planning: Beyond medical treatment, our team provides comprehensive guidance on lifestyle modifications. They'll help you navigate diet, exercise routines, stress management (including work and home pressures), and behavioral changes to foster long-term heart wellness. Explore Tips for a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
Medication Management & Support: Dignity Health will provide expert advice on medications, ensuring they are optimized for your specific needs. Our focus is on supporting you, in collaboration with your primary physician, as you work towards your wellness goals for a healthier heart and body.

Women's Heart Health

The cardiac experts at Dignity Health want your heart to keep beating strong for your loved ones. Early detection of heart problems means treatment can start earlier, so you’ll live healthier longer. Complete your Heart Health Quiz and find out where you stand.

Know Your Potential Risk

Take the Heart Quiz

Comprehensive Cardiovascular Treatments & Procedures

When facing heart trouble, a variety of advanced treatments are available to help restore your heart’s function and alleviate symptoms. Our team of renowned cardiologists at Dignity Health provides the full spectrum of cardiovascular treatments in Arizona, from minimally invasive procedures to complex open-heart surgeries. We are proud to be a nationally recognized leader in cardiovascular care, serving our community through our facilities distinguished by top industry awards including St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Chandler Regional, and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers.

Common Cardiovascular Treatments and Procedures We Offer

Our cardiologists recommend cardiovascular treatments to correct a wide range of heart conditions, effectively reduce symptoms, and significantly improve your quality of life.

Common Cardiovascular Procedures We Offer:

3D Mapping: Precisely tracks your heart's electrical activity to pinpoint the source of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats).
Ablation (Cardiac Ablation): Selectively destroys cells in your heart causing an arrhythmia. This can include Cryoablation, which uses extreme cold.
Angioplasty: Restores blood flow to your heart by inflating a tiny balloon inside blocked coronary arteries.
Cardiac Catheterization: A diagnostic procedure to examine your heart's arteries. If blockages are found, procedures like angioplasty or stent placement can be performed immediately.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery: Replaces blocked sections of a coronary artery using healthy arteries or veins from elsewhere in your body.
Endovascular Stent (Heart Stent): A small tube placed inside a blocked coronary artery to keep it open and improve blood flow.
Heart Transplant: Replaces a severely diseased heart with a donor organ (performed at specialized centers).
Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD): A mechanical pump that assists a weakened heart in circulating blood.
Open Heart Surgery: Encompasses various procedures, such as CABG, requiring access to the heart through an incision in the breastbone.
Pacemaker Implantation: A medical device implanted to help your heart maintain a normal rhythm.
Thrombolysis: Administration of "clot-busting" medications to dissolve dangerous blood clots.

CPR: A Lifesaving Response When Every Second Counts

When someone experiences a medical emergency involving their heart, understanding the critical difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest is vital, especially concerning CPR.

Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest: What's the Difference?

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction): This occurs when blood flow to a section of the heart muscle is blocked, often causing chest pain, shortness of breath, and discomfort. The individual is typically conscious and breathing. CPR is generally not needed during a heart attack itself. The immediate actions are to call 911, keep the person calm, and follow emergency dispatcher instructions.
Cardiac Arrest: This is an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes it to suddenly stop beating effectively. The person will collapse, become unresponsive, and stop breathing normally. Cardiac arrest is often a complication of a severe heart attack.

Why is CPR Critical During Cardiac Arrest?

If a heart attack leads to cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood, meaning the brain and other vital organs are immediately deprived of oxygen. Brain cells begin to die within minutes. This is where CPR becomes a true lifesaver:

Maintains Blood Flow: CPR manually circulates blood, delivering crucial oxygen to the brain and other organs. This buys invaluable time until professional medical help arrives.
Time is Brain: Each minute without CPR significantly reduces the chance of survival and increases the risk of permanent brain damage. Early, high-quality CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival from cardiac arrest.
Bridge to Advanced Care: CPR acts as a vital bridge, keeping the person alive until an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can be used to potentially reset the heart's rhythm, or until emergency medical services can provide advanced life support.

Learn How to Help: Dr. Rachel Bond Demonstrates how to Perform CPR

Knowing how to perform CPR can empower you to save a life. This emergency lifesaving procedure, performed when the heart stops beating, is crucial because hands-only CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival, according to the American Heart Association.

Where to Find Our Heart Specialists

Quality heart care should be convenient. Explore our network of Dignity Health facilities across Arizona, bringing expert heart specialists and comprehensive services closer to you. Find the location that best meets your needs.