Southern Indiana Physicians Cardiology

Cardiology Services in Bedford, IN

The IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians heart experts offer full diagnosis and treatment for all heart and vascular conditions. We provide life-saving heart care and diagnostic testing. We also use leading-edge treatments for heart attack, heart disease, stroke and other conditions that affect the circulatory system.

IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians detect heart conditions using noninvasive diagnostic techniques. This includes:

• Vascular ultrasound
• Echocardiography
• Nuclear cardiac testing
• Mobile cardiac telemetry
• Cardiac stress tests

These safe techniques help us create treatment options designed for your needs.

Our cardiologists can also help you manage heart conditions using medicines to improve blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rhythm. If you take anticoagulants such as Warfarin (commonly known by brand names such as Coumadin), we work closely with the IU Health Anticoagulation Clinic to manage these medicines.

IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians cardiologists also do invasive procedures. These include:

• Cardiac catheterization
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (both balloon angioplasty and coronary stenting)
• Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation and management
• Watchman Procedure

Additional testing includes:

• Electrophysiological studies to evaluate arrhythmias
• Catheter ablation of arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia

Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic tests help doctors assess your heart concern. With the test results, your doctor can determine your cardiovascular plan of care accordingly. Many of the tests your doctors use are performed in their office. Some are performed in close collaboration with local IU Health facilities.

Tests may include:

Arterial Stress Tests

These test the effect exercise has in the blood flow in lower extremities and compares it to resting blood flow. It provides a general sense of vascular health in the lower extremities.

Cardiac Stress Tests

Also known as exercise stress tests, this screening tests the effect of exercise on your heart and gives a general sense of heart health.

Device Clinic Services

These services provide for routine monitoring of an implanted pacemaker and/or defibrillator, loop recorder.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart. This allows doctors to evaluate the valves and chambers of the heart in a noninvasive manner. Learn more about an echocardiogram.

Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG)

An electrocardiogram records the heart's electrical activity to measure the rate and regularity of heartbeats. It also determines the size and position of the chambers, the presence of any heart damage and the effects of drugs or devices used to regulate the heart (such as a pacemaker).

Electrophysiology Study (EPS)

This involves placing wire electrodes within the heart to determine the characteristics of heart arrhythmias.

Heart Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

This test uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the heart, but does not use radiation. This test may also be done as part of a chest MRI.

Noninvasive Vascular Testing/Vascular Studies

Intravascular ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to see inside the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply the heart. Vascular doppler ultrasound uses sound waves to examine the blood flow in various parts of your body. These create an ultrasound picture showing the structure and function of the various blood vessels in the body.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

This imaging test uses a substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body. Unlike MRIs and CT scans, which reveal the structure of organs, a PET scan shows how the organs and tissues are functioning.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)

A TEE takes ultrasound pictures of your heart by putting a probe into your mouth and down your esophagus (food passageway). This provides a clear picture of your heart because it is just in front of the esophagus.

Mobile Cardiac Telemetry

This monitoring approach uses small portable monitors that, when a cardiac anomaly is detected, automatically records important data. The data is automatically transmitted to your heart physicians. This provides automatic, real-time monitoring and analysis.

Event Recording

An event recorder is worn for a period of time. A record of the heart's electrical currents is recorded when activated by the individual wearing the recorder.

Holter Monitoring

A holter monitor is worn for a period of time, which provides a record of the heart’s electrical current over a 24 hour period.

IU Health Level One Heart Team

Our cardiologists are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to care for patients experiencing heart attacks or other cardiovascular emergencies.

During a heart attack, the IU Health emergency and cardiology teams across south central Indiana work together to provide treatment faster than the national average time.

IU Health Bloomington Hospital is the region’s only provider of 24/7, 365 emergency heart care. This means the heart care is recognized for demonstrating better quality care and improved outcomes for patients, with lower rates of complications following certain cardiac procedures and lower rates of healthcare associated infections compared with peers.

Partnership with IU School of Medicine

Our cardiac services are among some of the most advanced in Indiana. Our doctors and professional staff are specially trained in the treatment of heart problems using advanced cardiac equipment and facilities. Through our partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, we offer patients access to the latest research.

About Our Practice

At IU Health Bedford Hospital, we provide heart care for adults through some of the most technologically advanced testing and procedures available. We provide patients a combination of clinical expertise, plus skilled cardiovascular physicians and staff.

Our team of experts, including cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and clinical specialists, work together to deliver the most advanced treatment options. That way, we're able to care for patients with common problems to the most complex.

Constant communication among our team members and with your family ensures everyone is informed at every stage of your care.

Parking

Patients may be dropped off or picked up at the main entrance, which faces 16th Street and offers a covered area, or as directed on the pre-visit information from your doctor’s office.

Parking at IU Health Bedford Hospital is free, with surface parking lots conveniently located near each entrance to help patients and visitors get to their destinations quickly. Once inside the hospital, our team will be happy to help you and answer any questions.