hshs logo
« Services

Heart Care

The Heart Care Team at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is focused on your total heart health: reducing risk with preventative screenings, treating conditions through simple to complex procedures, and getting you well through personalized rehabilitation plans.

A cardiologist and a CNA giving a mature male a blood pressure screening

Our partnership with the region’s top cardiologists, vascular surgeons and wellness experts makes HSHS Sacred Heart the best choice for heart care services. Now, more than ever, you can trust our team to treat and care for you. From encouraging healthy heart habits to providing the highest level of care, patients know HSHS Sacred Heart offers compassionate care, with a mission to serve.

Every year our heart and vascular experts diagnose and treat patients with critical and complex conditions. Each is specially trained and part of a team ready to make sure their patients receive the care they need as quickly as possible.

Heart Procedures, Tests and Monitoring

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR)

A surgical procedure to either repair or replace defective heart valves. Healthy valves keep blood flowing in the correct direction.


Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
A minimally invasive procedure to replace a defective aortic valve.

Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation
A pacemaker is an artificial device that is surgically placed under the skin to regulate a patient's heartbeat. Similarly, a defibrillator is a device that is surgically placed under the skin to regulate a patient's heartbeat, and it immediately corrects life threatening arrhythmias.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
A surgical procedure to restore normal blood flow to an obstructed coronary artery.

Angioplasty/stenting
This minimally invasive procedure is performed to improve blood flow to the arteries.

General thoracic surgery
Surgical procedures on the chest organs, including the heart and lungs.
Blood pressure monitoring
A blood pressure monitor consists of a blood pressure cuff connected to a monitor. Blood pressures are taken hourly for a 24 hour period. Physicians then utilize the information to determine hypertension (high blood pressure). This requires a 30 minute appointment.

Holter monitor
A Holter monitor is worn for a 24 or 48 hour period during which the electrical activity of the heart is recorded. The recording is read and the information reported is used by your physician to determine what medical treatment is needed, if any. The monitor is connected to the chest with five patches and wires. This requires a 30 minute appointment.

Event monitor
An event monitor is issued for a 30 day period. Two patches are applied to the chest and connected by wires toa small transmitter. Patches are changed daily by the patient, allowing for bathing. Over a 30 day period, the patient takes a recording when an event or episode occurs. The recording is then transferred via a landline phone to the monitor lab. Physicians utilize this information for heart rhythm abnormalities. This requires a 30 minute appointment.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
The electrocardiogram is a device capable of recording the electrical activity of the heart from electrodes placed on the skin in specific locations.

Physicians use this information to discover such things as:
  • heart rate
  • arrhythmias
  • myocardial infarctions
  • atrial enlargements

Echocardiogram (ECHO)
Ultrasound is one of the most widely used diagnostic procedures available. It provides a safe, non-invasive and virtually painless means of observing soft tissue anatomy on an outpatient basis.

An echocardiogram is a safe, non-invasive ultrasound imaging procedure used to assess cardiac function. Echocardiography allows doctors to visualize the anatomy, structure, and function of the heart. The echocardiogram can show:
  • all four chambers of the heart
  • the heart valves
  • the blood vessels entering leaving the heart
  • the sack around the heart
It can lead to a quick diagnosis of heart valve problems or abnormal flow within the heart.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
A different application of an echo, this approach allows your doctor to get more detailed pictures because your esophagus is located directly behind your heart.

Tilt table test
This test is used to diagnose people with unexplained fainting spells or syncope.

Cardiac catheterization
This test is used to record your heart and blood vessels as they work in order to help diagnose any narrowing or blockage.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
This uses harmless but powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the blood vessels.

Computer tomography (CT) scan
This is an imaging technique that uses a computer and X-rays to reveal cross-sections or "slices" of areas of the body.
A stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test or nuclear stress test, helps determine how well the heart handles work. As the patient walks on a treadmill or is given medication to stress the heart, an EKG machine monitors the heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, the electrical activity of the heart, and exercise tolerance. With a nuclear stress test, there are two parts to the test: a resting study and a stress study.

A nuclear stress test is used by doctors to diagnose and monitor heart disease.
  • During a nuclear stress test, a safe amount of a radioactive drug is injected into your vein which allows the cardiologist to see how well blood is flowing to and through your heart.
  • The test, usually conducted over two days, consists of taking images of your heart in two phases: a stress phase and a resting phase.
There may be restrictions as you prepare for this test. Please ask your health care provider.
An elderly man with white hair receives treatment from a younger male therapist

Cardiac Rehabilitation

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s cardiac rehab program focuses on assisting those who have undergone some form of cardiac intervention to a full recovery. Offering individualized programs for the patient's needs, our highly qualified team of professionals is there to assist during each stage of cardiac rehab. Our program is certified through the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, which means we're recognized for following standards and guidelines of the utmost quality, developed and published by the AACVPR.

The program requires a physician referral and a qualifying diagnosis. Upon receipt of this referral, an appointment is arranged to discuss and evaluate special needs, establish goals, and design a program to help you achieve these goals.

For more information on cardiac rehab, call 715-717-4377.

Advanced Technology

We use the latest techniques to open narrowed and/or blocked arteries and to treat all heart and vascular problems. Our state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs offer the full range of diagnostic and interventional capabilities, and our cardiac surgery program allows us to provide the full spectrum of treatment options for your heart. For more information, send our Heart Care Services an email.