AdventHealth of Altamonte Springs, Fla., has opened a new Heart & Vascular Institute in Littleton, Colo., to meet rising demand for cardiac care in the state, where heart disease kills more than 8,000 people annually and hospitalizations are projected to climb 22% by 2034, according to an Aug. 27 9News report.
The facility aims to provide a full spectrum of services, including intensive care, minimally invasive procedures and open-heart surgery.
Lee MacDonald, MD, president of South Denver Cardiology, also of Littleton, said population growth and lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of exercise are driving the increase in cases. He noted the center will reduce the need for patients to travel downtown for advanced services, drawing people from across the state for specialized care.
Notably, the expansion increases capacity from five to 18 bays. “We were having to take over some other departments to use some of their open space. So, to have five bays to 18 bays has been incredibly life-changing for our staff and honestly the community because people can get in and get their procedures done at a state-of-the-art facility, which is really exciting,” Kara Baker, RN, a cath lab nurse, told 9News.
