Hospital Services provided at UIC
Clinical activities annually include
- 20,000 outpatient visits at UIC and 4,000 at the JBVA.
- 9,000 echocardiogram procedures.
- 2,600 diagnostic catheterizations.
- 500 angioplasty procedures, with success rates well above American College of Cardiology and
- American Heart Association norms.
- 250 electrophysiology procedures.
Atrial Fibrillation Center
A catheter-based ablation system that allows the possibility of completely obviating chronic atrial fibrillation is now in a clinical phase II trial through the center, and more conventional treatment approaches, including pharmacotherapy, AV node modification, and surgical procedures also are available.
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
The labs at both the University and the allied Jesse Brown VA Medical Center are fully equipped to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic and interventional services for both adult and pediatric patients. Modern interventional devices, including angioplasty, atherectomy and rotoblator devices, and multiple stents (including DES) also are available for use in selected patients. The cardiology faculty is also prepared to perform procedures in the peripheral circulation if indicated. Intravascular ultrasound and radi-flow wire technology is available as needed for the assessment of coronary anatomy stent deployment and measurement of coronary stenoses. It is often possible for patients undergoing diagnostic procedures to be admitted and discharged from the hospital in less than two hours. The cardiac catheterization laboratory has an active Door to Balloon (D2B) Time Program for ST Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction patients. The D2B program regularly achieves times less than 90 minutes, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and Jesse Brown VA Hospital Programs.
Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Program
The program provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary evaluation of patients with ventricular dysfunction and chronic heart failure, emphasizing accurate assessment of functional status and an estimation of risk and prognosis. Individualized pharmacological treatment tailored to the patient is provided, including the use in certain cases of new drug therapies being tested in clinical trials. As part of a holistic approach to patient care, behavior modification including dietary management and smoking cessation, psychological and social evaluation, and counseling also is offered.
Coronary Calcium Screening
An Electron Beam Scanner and a 64 Slice CT Scanner are located at the University of Illinois Medical Center. An additional Electron Beam Scanner is present at our Arlington Heights Offices. Special computed tomographic techniques are used to visualize the coronary arteries in order to perform noninvasive screenings for the early detection of cardiovascular disease.
Cardiac Echocardiography Laboratory
Provides noninvasive assessment of heart function and valvular disease; stress tests supplemented with echocardiographic imaging; and ultrasound evaluation of heart function. All imaging is performed with systems equipped with state-of-the art harmonic imaging.
Electrocardiography Laboratory
Provides non-invasive testing, including electrocardiogram measurement of the heart’s electrical impulses, and 24-hour Holter Monitor and 30-day Event Monitor to detect life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and other abnormalities.
Electrophysiology Services
The cardiac electrophysiology laboratory provides state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic treatments for patients with symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias. Services available allow invasive and non-invasive evaluation of all dysrhythmias. Therapeutic procedures routinely performed include EP-guided pharmacotherapy, radiofrequency ablation of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias and device implantation (including AICDs and dual chamber pacemakers).
