Cardiology

We offer advanced heart screening services to diagnose and detect heart disease and cardiovascular conditions. Some of these screening tests and procedures include cardiac catheterization, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram (EKG), Holter monitoring and stress tests.

If you would like more information about our cardiology services, please call us at (352) 401-1427.

Our network of emergency rooms (ERs) is equipped with some of the most advanced technology to provide lifesaving heart attack care 24/7.

By quickly and consistently applying stringent, proven standards, we are able to produce the best possible outcomes. This results in less damage to the heart and lower hospital readmission rates.

Heart attack symptoms

Education about heart attack symptoms is an important aspect of our heart attack care. Knowing these signs of a heart attack could save a life:

• Back, jaw or neck pain
• Chest pain, pressure, tightness or an aching discomfort, lasting for more than a few minutes
• Cold sweat
• Dizziness, sudden lightheadedness or fainting
• Fatigue
• Heartburn, indigestion, nausea or abdominal pain
• Irregular or racing heartbeat
• Shortness of breath

If you believe your or someone else could be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Early heart attack care (EHAC)

In 1987, Dr. Raymond Bahr founded the EHAC program to spread the message that heart attacks have "beginnings" (signs and symptoms that occur well before the attack. This helps members in our community (that’s you!) recognize the symptoms before a major heart attack occurs and take action. Today, the EHAC course is available entirely online.

What to do if a heart attack occurs

If a heart attack has occurred, you can save a life with two simple steps:

1. Call 911.
2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

This instructional video by the American Heart Association shows you the two simple steps to perform CPR using only your hands.

Our highly trained electrophysiologists treat various types of heart arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms.

To identify the source of the arrhythmia, our electrophysiologists perform electrophysiology (EP) studies in our dedicated EP Lab. Once the origin of the arrhythmia is located, our team uses treatments, such as cardiac ablation or pacemaker implantation, to restore a normal heart rhythm.

When noninvasive treatments cannot improve heart conditions or their symptoms, our cardiologists may recommend heart and vascular surgery. Our cardiovascular surgeons perform a range of surgeries to help you regain your optimal heart health.

Interventional cardiology treatments

Interventional cardiology is a branch of cardiology focusing on blood flow through arteries in the heart and throughout the body. Our interventional cardiology treatments and procedures use thin, flexible tubes (catheters) to repair narrowed arteries and weakened or damaged blood vessels.

Some of these procedures include:

• Coronary atherectomy
• Coronary intervention (stent and balloon)
• Peripheral angiography and intervention
• Left ventricular support

We offer inpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs at both HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital. After you undergo a surgical procedure or experience a medical heart event, cardiac rehabilitation can help ensure you have a safe and complete recovery.

We offer an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, and as part of this program, our highly qualified rehabilitation specialists will:

• Monitor your heart
• Create customized rehabilitation plans
• Educate you about heart health topics to help you make more informed lifestyle choices to reduce heart and vascular disease

Additionally, our outpatient cardiac rehabilitation maintenance program, "Take Charge," is offered in an encouraging environment at HCA West Marion Hospital. Here, our team provides an individualized, structured exercise regimen for a nominal fee.