Skip to Content

Cardiology

Cardiology is the medical treatment of the heart and parts of the circulatory system as they relate to the heart. Cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the cardiovascular system.

HCAH_Specialty_Cardiology

Heart care center in Gainesville

When you need immediate cardiac care, you can count on our experienced heart and vascular teams to help you get back to feeling your best.

At HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, our comprehensive cardiovascular program at The Heart & Vascular Center is designed to meet all your heart health needs using the latest advancements and innovative technologies. We are not only recognized by the American College of Cardiology as an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention), but we were actually the first facility in Florida and the seventh in the nation to be accredited by the American College of Cardiology as a transcatheter aortic valve replacement certified facility.

Heart health profiler

Take our free, online heart health risk assessment to learn about your personal risk for heart disease.

Take our free, online heart health risk assessment to learn about your personal risk for heart disease.

Heart and vascular conditions we treat

We treat the following conditions of the heart and blood vessels:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysms
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Congenital heart abnormalities
  • Heart arrhythmias
  • Heart attacks
  • Structural heart conditions
  • Valve disorders
  • Vascular diseases

Our cardiovascular care program

We use state-of-the-art imaging and surgical techniques to diagnose and treat your cardiovascular condition. They include the following:

Cardiac imaging

Our hospital uses advanced imaging equipment for evaluating the heart's function. Heart imaging is crucial for visualizing the heart's structure and determining function. It also helps identify blockages in vital veins and arteries that can lead to severe conditions, such as a heart attack or cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Our heart imaging services include:

  • Arterial ultrasound
  • Computerized tomography (CT)
  • Echocardiogram
  • Electrocardiogram

Cardiac catheterization laboratories

Our hospital is home to three full-service cardiac cath labs. We perform a variety of procedures in our cath labs, but the main function is to perform cardiac catheterizations. These are procedures used to assess the structure and function of the heart's valves, chambers and coronary arteries.

During a cardiac catheterization, small, flexible tubes (called catheters) are inserted into the veins or arteries and guided to various chambers in the heart. The catheters are small enough to be passed through the blood vessels without patient discomfort. An X-ray dye is injected through the catheter and cameras are used to record images of blood flowing through the vessels.

For more information, please contact our cath lab team at (352) 333-4925.

Electrophysiology lab

Our cardiovascular team includes cardiac electrophysiologists who offer advanced care in the diagnosis and treatment of heart arrhythmias. Our hospital includes a dedicated laboratory for electrophysiology (EP) studies. These studies are a form of diagnostic testing used to study the heart's electrical system when abnormalities have been identified.

Treatments for heart arrhythmias may include:

  • Cardiac catheter ablation
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation
  • Permanent pacemaker placement
  • Maze Surgical treatment for arrhythmia

Vascular disease care

There are many types of vascular disease that affect the veins and arteries that make up the body's vascular system. Vascular disease occurs when a blood vessel becomes narrowed or blocked. This results in decreased blood flow to areas of the body, such as the lower extremities and brain.

We offer a variety of options to treat conditions such as atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms. In addition to traditional, open surgical approaches, we also perform minimally invasive endovascular procedures. These procedures offer a faster recovery time and promising patient outcomes.

Interventional cardiology program

Our heart specialists offer patients a variety of cardiovascular surgical options for the treatment of heart and vascular conditions. We offer minimally invasive interventional cardiology procedures in addition to traditional open-heart surgery.

Our surgical services include:

  • Valve repair and replacement
  • Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
  • Repair of congenital heart abnormalities in adults

Cardiac rehabilitation program

Following a cardiac surgery or heart event, many patients will participate in cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehab helps patients regain strength and provides education on healthy dietary and lifestyle changes.

We offer a three-phase cardiac rehabilitation program that focuses on monitored exercise and education on factors that contribute to heart disease, such as poor nutrition and high stress levels.

Choosing a cardiologist

Choosing a cardiologist is an important decision when it comes to your heart health, and your physician should be someone who readily listens to your concerns.

Tips on finding the right cardiologist

Begin your search for a cardiologist while you are healthy. This ensures you are able to make a thorough decision unaffected by time restraints.

Ask your friends, coworkers and other health providers for their recommendations. See if their reasons for choosing a provider align with your individualized needs. The best referrals come from patients who have enjoyed a happy relationship with their physician for years.

Be sure to check if a physician is accepting new patients, and review their education, training and credentials. You will want to make sure they accept your health insurance plan. Also check to see if your health plan covers your preferred hospital.


The Healthy Living Blog

Fresh knowledge and insights in and around healthcare industry.

American Heart Month: How to take care of your heart 

February 06, 2023
Tayla Holman
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but it is preventable with lifestyle changes, a healthy diet and physical activity.

American Heart Month: How to take care of your heart 

February 06, 2023
Tayla Holman
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but it is preventable with lifestyle changes, a healthy diet and physical activity.

6 surprising signs your heart health is at risk 

February 01, 2023
Learn more about risk factors for heart disease, including the link between dental health and heart disease.

7 habits that could be sabotaging your heart health 

February 01, 2023
Could you be putting your heart health at risk without knowing it? We asked HCA Florida Healthcare cardiologist Dr. Allan Stewart to weigh in on seven bad habits for heart health and tips on how to break them.