SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LAB
Southwestern Medical Center (SWMC), a part of LifePoint Health, is
pleased to announce that construction has begun on a new cardiac
catheterization (cath) lab to further enhance the heart health of the Lawton
Fort Sill community and surrounding areas. The project is funded by a $4.2
million investment from LifePoint Health and is anticipated to be completed in
summer 2021.
The new lab will initially be used to perform cardiac
catheterization procedures on patients needing more specialized heart care and
will expand to offer a full scope of services to include both inpatient and
outpatient procedures, as well as emergency care.
“The investment of a new cath lab is a meaningful step toward
advancing Southwestern Medical Center’s mission of Making Communities
Healthier,” said Elizabeth Jones, CEO of Southwestern Medical Center. “We are
committed to bringing advanced medical care to the residents of southwest
Oklahoma so they can stay close to home.”
Cardiac catheterization is a procedure used to diagnose and treat
heart and blood vessel problems. A tiny tube, called a catheter, is placed into
a blood vessel so imaging dyes and small equipment can be passed through.
Catheterization enables healthcare providers to examine the heart and blood vessels,
and is used to look for blockages in arteries, check heart valve function,
measure blood flow and even place stents in arteries when they are narrow or
blocked.
“Building this new cath lab is just
one more example of how deeply we care are about the Lawton Fort Sill community
and how we are always looking for ways to better serve their needs,” said
Robert Wampler, Mountain Division President of LifePoint Health. “We look
forward to the exciting day when we can open this new cath lab and expand the scope
of cardiac services available to our patients. LifePoint Health is proud to
partner with Southwestern Medical Center to continue transforming the health of
this region.”
The cath lab will be located within SWMC’s radiology department.
The construction will include a recovery area, locker rooms, nurse station and
feature the latest in cardiovascular and interventional imaging technology.
A community ribbon cutting will be planned following the
completion of the project.