Holzer Cath Services Recognize 20th Anniversary

Shown pictured are Holzer Cardiovascular Service staff, front row left to right: Allison Diehl, RN; Alex Clark, RN; Jessica Dill RT(R); Becky McFall, Unit Secretary; and Michelle William, RN. Back row left to right: Matt McComas, RT (R)(CT)(VI); Tim Casto RT(R)(CT)(CV); David Hammons, RN; and Shaun Meeks, RN

Holzer Cardiovascular Services recently celebrated 20 years of providing cardiac procedures including cardiac catheterizations (heart cath) at our Gallipolis campus. This service began in March of 2000, providing 184 procedures for the initial year. For 2019, our cardiac/interventional radiology team provided 3,655 total procedures including 1,002 cardiac catheterizations for our communities.  

Cardiac catheterizations are procedures used to diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular conditions. During cardiac catheterization, a thin tube (catheter) is inserted in an artery in your groin or arm and threaded through your blood vessels to your heart. Catheterizations are performed to check for heart disease (such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, or disease of the aorta), monitor how the heart muscle is working, and to decide whether further treatment such as an interventional procedure (Stent) or bypass surgery is needed. 

“Holzer has amazing cardiac staff, with several team members who have been here since the initiation of our cath lab,” shared Kendra Riffle, BSN, RN, Cardiac Cath Manager, Holzer Cardiovascular Services.  “Our staff is knowledgeable, efficient and friendly, providing care that is comparable to anywhere, including larger cities and metropolitan areas.” 

“The majority of Holzer cardiac catherizations are performed radially, which is through the wrist,” shared Tim Casto, Rt(R)(CV)(CT), Radiology Specialty Supervisor, Cardiac Cath Lab, Holzer Cardiovascular Services. “This allows for quicker recovery time and reduced risks.” This type of catheterization is when the cardiologist uses the radial artery in the wrist as the entry point for the catheter. The thin catheter then works through the body’s network of arteries in the arm and into the chest, reaching the heart. Catheterizations performed this way are reported to have improved safety, enhanced comfort, and shorter recovery times.  

“We are blessed with a sense of family,” shared Casto. “We know the patients and they know our staff. We are providing services for our friends and family, which is comforting for our patients to have a relationship with our staff. Our patients know that we are going to provide the very best care possible.” 

“Holzer patients don’t feel like a number,” shared Matt McComas, Rt(R)(VI)(CCT), Cardiovascular Technologist. “We pride ourselves on the fact that we treat everyone like they are a member of our own family.” 

When a patient having a heart attack arrives in Holzer’s Emergency Department, a code “STEMI” is activated, which immediately contacts the cardiologist, cardiology team and cath lab personnel.  The patient is then escorted into the cath lab to open any blocked coronary arteries as soon as possible. 

Decreased blood flow to the heart caused by blockages can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle, making the time it takes to open the blockage very important. Door-to-balloon is a measurement of this time in emergency cardiac care, specifically when referencing ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (heart attack) or STEMI. The time begins with the patient’s arrival in the emergency department and ends when a catheter guidewire crosses the blockage and a balloon or stent is deployed opening the artery and returning blood flow to the heart in the cardiac cath lab.  

“Holzer has a recorded average door-to-balloon time of 55 minutes which is published in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry through the American College of Cardiology” stated Riffle. “The national benchmark is 90 minutes.” 

In addition to STEMI procedures, Holzer Cath labs are utilized for Interventional Radiology services. Interventional radiology is a specialized field where providers not only interpret medical images but can diagnose and treat patients using the least invasive techniques currently available in order to minimize risk to the patient and improve health outcomes. These procedures have less risk, less pain and less recovery time in comparison to surgery. Procedures performed by an Interventional Radiologist include: angioplasty and stent insertion, carotid stenting, carpal tunnel ultrasound, etc. Holzer Interventional Radiologist include Philip Long, MD, and Dean Siciliano, MD.  

Holzer Cardiovascular Services has assembled a staff of the region’s most qualified team of cardiac physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff. Holzer Interventional Cardiology providers include Robert Bradley, DO, Interventional Cardiology, Ramesh Chandra, MD, Interventional Cardiology, and Choudhary Rayani, MD, Cardiac Electrophysiology. Using the most technologically advanced cardiac equipment and procedures, Holzer is devoted to delivering the very best in cardiac care. 

For more information, call 1-855-4-HOLZER or visit www.holzer.org.