Tuscaloosa Cardiology Services

DCH Health System offers a number of cardiac services to our patients, including EKG, ECHO, stress testing, diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology procedures, and cardiac surgical procedures. Our cardiac patients are cared for in designated areas of the hospital to provide critical care as well as acute hospital care. We also offer cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services.

We participate in national registries PCI and STS to keep informed of the latest developments in cardiac management and treatment as well as benchmark our performance against other hospitals.

We offer the following cardiology services:

• Cardiac Ablation: Cardiac ablation is used to treat specific heart rhythm problems that medicines are not controlling. These problems may be dangerous if not treated. Click here for more information.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG): Electrocardiograms detect and diagnose heart abnormalities and generate a record of the electrical currents associated with heart muscle activity. EKGs are provided around the clock at DCH Regional Medical Center and STAT (emergency) response for emergencies is provided.
• Echocardiograms: Echocardiograms use ultrasonic waves to visualize structural and functional abnormalities of the heart. Echocardiograms are performed at DCH Regional Medical Center from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Cardiology department, located on the first floor. Staff is on call 24 hours a day for emergency procedures. STAT response is available for emergency situations. Echocardiograms are performed on patients of all ages with suspected cardiovascular disease, or who are scheduled to undergo a procedure in which a physician desires a baseline Echocardiogram.
• Cardiac Surgical Unit at DCH Regional Medical Center: The Cardiac Surgical Unit is designed to care for postoperative cardiac surgical patients. The unit includes an intensive care unit for critical care during the immediate postoperative period, and a step-down unit for further recovery until discharge.
• Acute Cardiac Care Unit/Cardiac Intervention Unit at DCH Regional Medical Center: The Acute Cardiac Care Unit provides care for nonsurgical, acutely ill cardiac patients requiring intensive care. ACCU has private rooms and is designed to provide intensive care nursing and close observation of patients. Adjacent to the ACCU is the Cardiac Intervention Unit. The CIU provides patient care for nonsurgical, cardiac patients who require close observation after invasive and intervention procedures.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation: Cardiac Rehabilitation is a comprehensive, long-term program that involves medical evaluation, prescribed exercise, modifying risk factors, education, counseling and behavioral interventions. These services are designed to help people with heart disease speed up their recovery and return to regular activities. It can also help reduce the risk of having future heart problems. Click here to learn more about Cardiac Rehab.