In the Community

It starts in the community, where nine EMS agencies or ambulance districts are under the medical direction of St. Anthony's. "We provide monthly continuing education classes for crews and ensure skills and training are up-to-date,” says Shelby Cox, EMT-P, EMS liaison. “We've also donated several advanced portable defibrillators, so emergency responders can treat potential heart attack patients before they even arrive at our hospital.”

Cardiologists are available 24/7. A large cardiology group practice and an acclaimed cardiac surgery team are based on the medical center campus, as well as in physician offices in Kirkwood and Affton. “We start in the community to evaluate and identify risk factors for heart disease,while encouraging healthier lifestyles,” says Dr. Morton. “If advanced care is needed, we have the facilities and expertise to handle it. Our custom-designed surgical suites, such as a hybrid surgery-catheterization room and electrophysiology suites with 3-D heart mapping, have been called industry innovations.”

Cardiac services or procedures performed at St. Anthony's:

• Fast track stress testing (treadmill and nuclear stress tests)
• Angioplasty/stenting
• Atherectomy
• Bypass surgery
• “Keyhole” or small incision surgery for aortic and mitral valve repair and replacement
• Outpatient and inpatient cardiac catheterization
• Carotid stenting
• Clinical trails of new cardiac drugs and procedures
• Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation
• Cox-Maze atrial fibrillation surgery
• Regional referral center for non-surgical cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation
• Regional referral center for highly specialized lead extraction, or removal of damaged wires from implanted pacemakers or defibrillators
• Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
• Region's only Heart Failure Clinic
  

“We now have more than 20 board-certified heart specialists at St. Anthony's,” Dr. Morton says. “Comprehensive services. A focus on quality. Commitment to excellence. Close to home. That's what we've built here. I think the community will be surprised at all that we now offer.”