The Baptist Heart Center, a dedicated cardiac center housing all invasive and noninvasive procedures at Western Baptist, takes Western Baptist's commitment to heart care to the next level. The 79,000-square-foot facility has been strategically designed to provide immediate acccess from the Emergency department, where many cardiac problems are first diagnosed.

Western Baptist Hospital is the area's premier heart care center. Since bringing open heart surgery to western Kentucky in 1985, we have performed more than 8,800 open heart procedures, and we perform more than 3,000 procedures in the cardiac cath labs each year. Our cardiovascular program is among the most respected in Kentucky.

Western Baptist has been awarded a national American Heart Association award for its treatment of heart patients. Read more about this prestigious honor by clicking here.

Your First Choice in Cardiac Care

Western Baptist's history of cardiac "firsts" in our service area demonstrates our commitment to bringing quality, world-class technology to our patients: 

• First heart catheterization procedure
• First percutaneous coronary angioplasty
• First directional coronary atherectomy
• First rotablator procedure
• First coronary laser angioplasty
• First intra aortic balloon pump inserted
• First therapeutic stent implanted
• First to use vasoseal collagen plug
• First with digital imaging
• First intravascular extraction catheter
• First to use pacemakers in a catheterization lab
• First dual chamber pacemaker
• First rate response pacemaker
• First to use ventricular assistive technology
• First radial approach cardiac catheterization
• First minimally invasive open heart procedures
• First implanted heart monitoring device
• First Enhanced External Counter Pulsation therapy (EECP)

Comprehensive Services

From treadmill tests to angioplasty and heart surgery, our team of experienced physicians and professional staff uses the latest technology to heal hearts affected by a variety of disorders. Through this technology, we diagnose problems early when they are easier to treat. The comprehensive range of services provided to heart patients at Western Baptist Hospital includes:

• The Baptist Heart Center, a dedicated cardiac center housing all invasive and noninvasive procedures at Western Baptist.
• The Chest Pain and Stroke Hotline, answered 24 hours a day by registered nurses trained in cardiac and stroke emergencies;
• The Chest Pain Center, located in the hospital's Trauma Center and dedicated to the immediate treatment of heart attack symptoms;
• Diagnostic Cardiology Services, including electrocardiograms, nuclear medicine, stress tests, ultrasound echocardiograms, tilt table tests, Holter monitoring and implanted monitors;
• Three Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories for both diagnostic testing and interventional procedures for the treatment of heart disease;
• A dedicated Close Observation Unit to provide safe and cost-effective care of patients before and after cardiac catheterizations or diagnostic heart procedures;
• Open Heart Surgery performed in a dedicated cardiothoracic surgical suite;
• A Coronary Care Unit (CCU) where patients with serious heart problems are closely monitored and receive specialized, individual care;
• The 41-bed 4B-Telemetry Unit to provide the next level of specialized care for patients recovering from a cardiac event;
• Specialized Services for Heart Transplant Patients, including ventricular assist technology to temporarily take over the heart's pumping action for patients who are awaiting a transplant and right heart biopsies to see if the body is rejecting a donor heart;
• At Home Cardiac Care Program provided by registered nurses with advanced cardiac life support certification and critical care experience through Baptist Home Health;
• Educational information for patients and families offered through the Medical Library;
• A four-phase Cardiac Rehabilitation Program designed for patients who have experienced a heart attack, coronary artery bypass grafting, angioplasty or valve replacement surgery or who suffer from angina; and
• Congestive Heart Failure information to educate and inform patients and family members;
• Instruction in pediatric and adult CPR through the hospital's American Heart Association CPR Training Center.

Western Baptist's Infection Control Department is responsible for preventing and controlling the spread of nosocomial infections in heart patients.

Cardiac news

Read about the latest cardiac news, technologies and procedures at Western Baptist by clicking on the following links:

www.westernbaptist.com/news/Women-and-heart.cfm

 

www.westernbaptist.com/news/Cardiac-Arrest.cfm

 

www.westernbaptist.com/news/WBH-Named-Center-of-Excellence.cfm

 

www.westernbaptist.com/news//Wireless-Defib.cfm

 

www.westernbaptist.com/news/Heart-Center-Groundbreaking.cfm

 

www.westernbaptist.com/news/64-CT-Scanner.cfm

 

www.westernbaptist.com/news/Heart-of-a-woman.cfm

 

Heart healthy recipes

We also offer heart healthy recipes to help you learn how to incorporate low fat eating into your lifestyle. Whether you need recipes for fast and easy main dishes or holiday desserts, you'll find them on our web site.

For More Information

Western Baptist Hospital has consistently brought 20 years of "firsts" to the region since beginning cardiac catheterization services in 1977 to our most recent addition of minimally invasive open heart procedures. It is the kind of commitment that sets hospitals apart. It's the desire of the hospital to earn the confidence of an entire region; the motivation to ensure renewed quality of life for all who pass through its doors; the honest commitment to fully restore the physical autonomy of every patient.

At Western Baptist Hospital, this is the healing force. It's the promise to offer a higher level of compassion and expertise in every situation, and it's how we're able to make a positive and lasting difference in people's lives.

Western Baptist's Infection Control Department is responsible for preventing and controlling the spread of nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients.

For more information about Cardiac Services at Western Baptist Hospital, phone Baptist Health Line at (270) 575-2918.