Cardiology

We have brought together leading physician practices in the area to provide you with enhanced care. Our cardiology offices and affiliated clinics are located throughout central Texas.

Heart valve clinic

Featuring a team of interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, our heart valve clinic is dedicated to the advancement and research of valvular therapies. Our medical professionals specialize in the latest transcatheter valve procedures, minimally invasive techniques and aortic valve replacement or repair surgery.

Advanced cardiac care center

Our advanced cardiac care center is home to multiple clinics that offer care for active amyloid, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Each clinic actively screens, treats and regularly tracks your health condition — regardless of whether you are receiving inpatient or outpatient care. These clinics also accept physician referrals for heart evaluations.

Arrhythmia institute

The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David’s Medical Center is an international treatment, training and research center specializing in care for heart rhythm disorders. TCAI is led by a global leader in electrophysiology and the physicians travel internationally, leading and participating in conferences, initiating innovative techniques and influencing the future of their field. In addition to treatment and research, the institute serves as an educational resource for heart doctors.

Procedures at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute are performed in a state-of-the-art Electrophysiology Lab (EP Lab) at St. David’s Medical Center, and the  electrophysiology physicians are supported by a dedicated team of nurses, technologists and tertiary staff.

TCAI treats the broadest spectrum of heart arrhythmia cases, from relatively simple to highly complex.

By using heart screening and imaging services, we can diagnose your symptoms and inform you of possible conditions before they develop. This enables our specialists to prioritize preventive care. It also helps you determine your risk of heart disease and failure.

Our advanced heart screening and imaging services include echocardiograms, computerized tomography (CT) scans and stress tests.

Early detection testing for heart disease

This painless test provides the possibility for early detection of heart disease. We offer the latest scanner technology, providing sharp, detailed images of the heart. The procedure is similar to an X-ray: fast, painless and highly accurate in determining the extent of calcified blockage in the arteries.

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot effectively pump blood to the rest of the body. This can be triggered by:

• Cancer-related problems
• Congenital heart problems
• Heart disease
• Heart electrical problems
• Heart infections
• High blood pressure
• Lung problems
• Substance abuse/use problems
• Thyroid problems
• Viral illnesses

To help you treat, manage or potentially reverse your condition, multiple heart centers within our hospital network collaborate to provide comprehensive services, including:

• Advanced therapies, such as ventricular assist devices
• Diagnosis for heart failure
• Identification of reversible causes
• Outpatient treatment options
• Resources to improve your lifestyle and minimize risk factors
• Transplant services

Cardiac diseases and issues can stem from dysfunctional or congenital abnormalities in your heart's chambers or valves. The heart specialists and surgeons in our structural heart program utilize leading-edge technology to accurately diagnose structural issues, enhance heart function and support your recovery.

Heart disease risk factors

As the number one killer of men and women in the United States, heart disease claims more lives than all forms of cancer, combined.

If you're a man aged 40-65 or a woman aged 45-70, you should schedule a screening appointment if you have one or more of the following risk factors:

• Diabetic
• Family history of heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Inactive lifestyle
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Overweight
• Smoker

If you are outside the listed age ranges, you must bring a written physician referral to your appointment.

If you have experienced heart attack symptoms or a life-threatening stroke, we are prepared to help. At our emergency rooms (ERs), you can receive prompt care from experienced teams of nurses, physicians and technicians.

At our medical centers, we perform heart and vascular surgery, including open heart, bypass and valve surgery. We also treat aortic disease. Our heart hospital specializes in minimally invasive surgery and cardiovascular procedures that include:

• Advanced aortic disease treatment
• Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
• Mechanical circulatory support
• Minimally invasive heart surgery
• Mitral valve surgery (repair or replacement of the mitral valve, which prevents blood from flowing back into the heart)
• Structural heart services
• Surgical aortic valve replacement, or SAVR (replacing a diseased valve with an artificial one)

Cardiac rehabilitation is a specialized therapy designed to help you develop a heart-healthy lifestyle, before or after heart surgery or treatment. Through education and exercise, you can learn about your heart health and reduce your risk of disease and failure.

Many of our hospitals offer rehabilitation programs where you work with cardiologists, nurses and therapists in a safe, controlled environment. Your care team gradually increases your level of physical activity while monitoring your body's response to exercise. Cardiac rehabilitation can last from six to 18 weeks, depending on your needs.

Components of cardiac rehab

Cardiac rehabilitation includes two components: physical activity and counseling. You will be taught physical exercises to help improve your strength and cardiovascular fitness. You will also learn best practices for optimal heart health in your one-on-one counseling sessions.

Physical activity

Cardiac rehabilitation includes physical therapy. We work towards helping you:

• Gain confidence to resume activities of daily living
• Gradually increase the efficiency of your heart and lungs
• Strengthen your muscles

We will customize a plan based on your heart health and medical conditions. This approach enables us to work toward your wellness goals in the most effective way possible.

Heart health education

During rehabilitation, you will also learn to reduce your risk for future heart problems. You and your doctor will develop a plan for managing risk factors, eating a nutritional diet and participating in stress management counseling. If needed, smoking cessation support is also available.

Program duration

Typical therapy programs last six to 12 weeks with one to three sessions scheduled per week. The length of your program depends on your goals, recovery progress and your cardiologist’s recommendation. Therapy can begin shortly after being discharged from your procedure.

Starting cardiac rehabilitation

A physician's referral is required for cardiac rehabilitation. Your cardiologist may recommend therapy following a diagnosis or treatment. In general, people participate in our program after experiencing:

• A heart attack
• A heart failure diagnosis
• Coronary intervention, with or without stent placement
• Heart surgery
• Stable angina (chest pain or discomfort resulting from activity or emotional stress)
• Valve replacement or repair

Your cardiac rehabilitation team helps you and your family learn how to cope with the stress of adjusting to a new lifestyle after experiencing a heart-related issue. The skills you learn in cardiac rehabilitation can last a lifetime.

Insurance for cardiac rehabilitation

Your insurance may cover all or part of the cost for your cardiac rehabilitation sessions. Insurance plans vary, so we can assist you with verification of coverage at your request.

We are affiliated with leading cardiovascular research groups in the U.S. We also have a dedicated research office to further support and grow our programs. Our cardiovascular studies focus on the following areas:

• Cardiac medications
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Structural heart devices
• Therapeutic implants
• Treatments for atrial fibrillation (AFib) and heart failure