It’s a fact – heart disease is the leading killer throughout our community.* In response, Underwood-Memorial Hospital continues to mount an aggressive campaign to change this chilling fact.
The Heart Center is the only hospital-based cardiac diagnostic and rehabilitation facility in Gloucester County. It is here that we offer a broad range of diagnostic testing using the latest and most sophisticated cardiac technology in a comfortable atmosphere with friendly, personal attention provided by our physicians, nurses, technologists and other healthcare professionals.
Our state-of-the-art, August D. Pistilli cardiac catheterization laboratory and board certified invasive cardiologists bring to our community hospital environment one of the most advanced and effective means to evaluate heart structure and function while determining severity of coronary artery blockage. Reinforcing our diagnostic and treatment capabilities is our award winning** cardiac rehabilitation program. Our cardiac rehab team takes an active role teaching and focusing on issues such as lifestyle modification, chest pain and emergency management, smoking cessation, weight and stress management, cardiac medications, changing dietary habits and the importance of exercise maintenance.
Accelerated treatment for heart attack patients.
For heart attack patients, our Emergency Department is southern New Jersey’s premier destination for cardiac intervention.
Underwood is the only hospital in Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties that provides emergency PCI--percutaneous coronary intervention. Our Heart Center's interventional cardiologists are so proficient in this technique, our average “door-to-balloon” time is well within the national guidelines established by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
With PCI, a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into an artery and threaded toward a trouble spot near the heart. The balloon is inflated to widen the narrowed artery and restore blood flow. In many cases, an expandable metal mesh tube, called a stent, is inserted to keep the artery open. PCI is an extremely effective way to stop a heart attack as quickly as possible, which helps save heart muscle and aids in a more speedy recovery.
Cardiac care at Underwood-Memorial — helping our friends and neighbors enjoy a better quality of life. Now that’s a fact you can live with!
If you would like more information on the Heart Center, please talk with your doctor or contact Denise Giordano, RN ,at the Heart Center, (856) 853-2123.
* Source: NJ Department of Health and Senior Services
** Awarded best overall nursing performance in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation by Nursing Enrichment Consultants