March 1, 1999

When the new MGH Knight Center for Interventional Cardiovascular Therapy opens March 1, it will offer one of the most technologically advanced cardiac catheterization facilities available in New England. The 13,000-square-foot facility on Blake 9 will enable the MGH to improve patient care and education, reduce hospital length of stay, expedite the flow of patient information to physicians and increase research studies designed to advance cardiac care.

Right: Carolyn Cain, RN, demonstrates one of the imaging devices in the new cath lab.

Cardiac catheterization, which is the procedure of guiding a catheter through a main artery in the leg up to the heart to obtain images of blood flow and heart function, was introduced to the MGH in 1949. The first and current consolidated catheterization suite of four rooms, opened 10 years ago, as cardiac catheterization became the definitive method for diagnosing certain types of heart problems and for successfully treating a wide range of cardiac conditions.

"After seeing many catheterization laboratory facilities in the United States and around the world, there is no question that the new Blake 9 cardiac cath lab is by far one of the best facilities around," says Igor Palacios, MD, director of the MGH Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. "It is a commitment from the hospital to offer our patients a full range of options in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This facility will provide our highly specialized staff with an excellent environment for the further development and evaluation of innovative interventional procedures to treat patients with a variety of heart diseases. In addition, the laboratory will offer a stimulating environment for cardiovascular research."

According to Steve Oesterle, MD, director of Invasive Cardiology at the MGH, the high-resolution imaging processors in the new facility will be linked to a digital archive where the images can be stored and distributed throughout the hospital's network. The digital images also can be stored on compact disks rather than on large rolls of expensive film. "With a secure access system in place, these studies can be available within the Partners network, which will improve communication of patient information," he says.

David Read, MGH administrative director of Cardiology, adds that using this latest in imaging technology will reduce radiation exposure for patients and staff.

The current catheterization laboratory has been operating above 95 percent capacity, with more than 6,000 procedures a year. With the increase in capacity to six rooms, the new lab will accommodate elective procedures in a timely manner. Patients from referring hospitals now will be admitted directly to the new facility so that procedures can be performed the same day, which will reduce the length of hospital stay.

"One of the most dramatic physical improvements is in the patient and family waiting area," says Susan Cronin-Jenkins, CCRN, nurse manager of the new center. "The new facility offers enhanced environmental comforts such as spacious and attractive reception and waiting areas. Here patients and families can be together prior to a procedure, and families can have easy access to updates on patient status once a procedure has begun. A new exam/consult room will fully support patient, family and physician communication in a private and confidential setting."

Above: Susan Cronin-Jenkins, CCCRN; Steve Oesterle, MD;
Igor Palacios, MD; and Mark Fishman, MD, Chief of MGH Cardiology.