Cardiology Diagnostic & Treatment Center
Exceptional Care a Heartbeat Away
Heart disease is the single leading killer in the United States, striking 1.2 million people and accounting for one in five deaths each year. On the brighter side, however, more people are surviving the disease today due to monumental advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Raritan Bay Medical Center has been on the forefront of these breakthroughs, providing the community with a comprehensive, world-class cardiovascular program. Our Cardiology Diagnostic & Treatment Center, coupled with exceptional emergency and support services, ensures area residents have access to life-saving angioplasty, drug therapy and other critical interventions. We’ve built our stellar reputation upon the premise that minutes always count, so patients at Raritan Bay Medical Center can rest assured that exceptional cardiac care is a heartbeat away regardless of the day of the week, we are here 24/7.
Exceptional Standards of Care
Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Cardiology Diagnostic & Treatment Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health. The medical center is a designated teaching institution for therapists and maintains affiliations with several major universities and colleges, including University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), Seton Hall University, Columbia University, Boston University, Quinnipiac University, Syracuse University, City University of NY-Hunter College, Widener University, Newmann College, Union County College and Essex County College.
Emergency Care
When someone is experiencing chest pain or cardiac arrest, medical care often begins before the patient reaches the hospital. Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit responds to thousands of 911 calls in Middlesex County. The fleet’s certified paramedics are trained to administer electrical defibrillation, intravenous therapy and other procedures at the scene of an emergency, while working with physicians to expedite hospital treatment, including cardiac catheterizations and angioplasty.
Patients exhibiting warning signs of heart attack are promptly triaged to the Emergency Department’s Chest Pain Center, where they are closely monitored and assessed by a team of board-certified emergency physicians, cardiologists and registered nurses. Under the hospital’s stringent protocols, potential heart attack victims receive priority for surgical and non-invasive diagnostic testing to facilitate treatment and ultimately prevent irreparable heart muscle damage.
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
The cornerstone of Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Cardiology and Diagnostic Treatment Center is its full service Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. Housed on the Perth Amboy campus, the facility is equipped with state-of-the-art digital imaging technology that allows physicians to view the heart’s blood flow and vessels so they can accurately diagnose coronary artery disease, valve disease and congenital heart anomalies. The Lab is available around-the-clock and is expertly run by a highly experienced team of interventional cardiologists, registered nurses and cardiovascular technologists. Over 1,000 cases are performed annually.
Angioplasty
Raritan Bay Medical Center is among a select group of New Jersey hospitals approved by the State Health Commissioner to perform both primary and elective angioplasty. Primary angioplasty, regarded as the gold standard, most effective intervention for heart attacks, is used to open clogged arteries and restore blood flow within 90 minutes of a patient’s arrival at the hospital. This is accomplished by inserting a balloon into the blocked arteries followed by a stent, in some cases, to keep the arteries clear. The technique halts or prevents the potentially deadly consequences of heart attack while facilitating the best possible patient outcomes.
Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tools
Raritan Bay Medical Center employs a vast range of non-invasive diagnostic tools for detecting and managing heart disease. It is one of only a few hospitals in the country to use three-dimensional echocardiography ensuring the most vivid, accurate images for cardiovascular studies. The facility performs over 20,000 procedures annually, with a full complement of tests that include:
• electrocardiograms
• echocardiograms
• cardiac stress tests
• holter monitoring
• nuclear stress tests
• signal-average electrocardiograms
• transesophogeal echocardiograms
• ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• cardiac event recording
CCU/ICU/ACU
Cardiac patients requiring hospitalization are transferred to the Medical Center’s Critical Care Unit or dedicated Angioplasty Care Unit, where they remain under the watchful eye of registered nurses who are specially trained and credentialed in cardiovascular care.
The Cardiac Club
The Cardiac Club at Raritan Bay Medical Center promotes cardiovascular health through monthly support and education meetings. The group is open to former cardiac patients and their families as well as members of the community, offering a valuable forum for sharing concerns and strategies for living with heart disease. The meetings are free of charge and held at the Perth Amboy campus. For more information about The Cardiac Club, please call 732.324.5178.
Know the early warning signs of heart attack
When it comes to a heart attack, time lost is muscle lost. Recognize the early warning signs to avoid irreparable heart damage:
• Chest discomfort that lasts several minutes or occurs intermittently. It may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of Breath.
• Nausea, lightheadedness or a cold sweat.
If you or someone you’re with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don’t wait longer than five minutes before calling 9-1-1.