Longview, Texas-based Christus Good Shepherd Health System opened a $8.5 million heart and vascular institute Oct. 14, the Longview News-Journal reports.
The 21,500-square-foot facility combines cardiology, electrophysiology and cardiovascular surgery into a medically integrated clinic, creating a one-stop shop for comprehensive cardiovascular care, according to Chris McClish, MD, chief of cardiology at Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center.
All of the medical center's cardiothoracic surgeons, four interventional cardiologists, one non interventional cardiologist, an electrophysiologist and several cardiology nurse practitioners will staff the facility, which is next to the medical center.
The new heart center features outpatient procedural rooms, a noninvasive cardiology area, a minimally invasive vein clinic, and a cardiac rehabilitation area.
"It's unique because if we see something that's alarming and that makes us nervous, because we have our doctors so close, we can bring them over here immediately and lay eyes on it to see if there's anything we need to do further or come back at a different time," Kent Andries, BSN, the health system's director of cardiology, told the news outlet.
The facility will begin seeing patients Oct. 18.