New Heart Health Technology Preserves Patient and Doctor Health

Feb 152 min read

This Valentine’s Day, a celebration of the heart took place at the new Cardiac Cath Lab at Val Verde Regional Medical Center (VVRMC). Tears of gratitude welled in the eyes of doctors, nurses, and patients as they spoke during the ribbon cutting ceremony. “This community is the beating heart of what keeps this city alive,” said Seferino Gomez III, Hospital Board Member.

The advanced technology in the Cath Lab reduces exam time by 30% for patients, according to Dr. Stephen Korte, Cardiologist at VVRMC. This enables doctors to start treatments earlier within the critical window that follows a cardiovascular attack, subsequently reducing fatality rates. Dr. Korte also emphasized the “importance for worker safety” that the new Cath Lab provides for hospital staff. Radiation exposure is now 50% less. The doctors and nurses in this department wear heavy lead garments all day every day to protect themselves from radiation. Their risk has now been cut in half.

The 20-year-old system that was replaced was the last of its kind in the state of Texas. The Cath Lab “system acts as the eyes of the doctor,” explained Shimadzu Medical Systems Reps Kevin Ragon and Terrence Pugh. The imagery with the old Philip’s system was muddied – “like walking into a dark room and you can’t see anything,” they said, “the Shimadzu system is like someone walking in with a flashlight.” It increases image quality, increases diagnostic accuracy, reduces radiation dose, and reduces energy waste.

“We celebrate this for ourselves, but in the end it’s for the patients, the families, that’s who we are here to serve,” said Dr. Julio Otazo, Radiologist at VVRMC. In the first 3 days of operation, the new Cath Lab has already been able to help with 8 cases. Pat and Pam Melancon, 3x patients of the lab, went so far as to describe their time in the lab as “awesome.” Michelle Ballard RN added, “in the Cath Lab alone, we have over 110 combined years of experience.”

Speakers went on to thank the Falcon Family for their financing support, and the renovation project management team for reducing lab down-time from an anticipated 9-12 months to less than 1.5 months. The improvements are also a big recruiting tool for getting more nurses and doctors to VVRMC. They already have a few leads to bring more cardiologists down to Del Rio. The new Cath Lab means less trips out of town for medical treatments, less waiting time, less invasive solutions, and more access to doctors.