SJG Bendigo Hospital expands cardiac care service

St John of God Bendigo Hospital has launched a new Cardiac Assessment Unit (CAU), offering a full suite of cardiac care services.

Chief Executive Michael Hogan said the hospital’s CAU aims to provide fast, quality care for people experiencing chest pain or a heart-related condition.

“It helps ensure quick access to a cardiologist, appropriate diagnostic equipment, highly trained nursing staff and, if necessary, our intensive care unit,” he said.

“We’re now offering this service five days a week through referral by a GP, a hospital or a paramedic.”

The service can be accessed by referral and is supported by a skilled medical team. There are six cardiologists rostered onsite to provide diagnosis and treatment as part of the service.

The cardiologists are Dr Balashankar Saravanasubramanian, Dr Himawan Fernando, Dr Anthony Jackson, Dr Joris Mekel, Dr Voltaire Nadurata and Dr Nimalan Nadarajah.

The CAU service offers direct admission to the Critical Care Unit for privately insured patients with acute cardiology problems. “We also have access to intensive care specialists from the ICU,” Mekel said.

“We have access to other medical specialists and to a comprehensive suite of investigations for patients, including echocardiography, coronary angiography, pacemaker implantation and interrogation.”

Fernando said the service offers the next-generation interventional technology, so patients don’t have to travel down to Melbourne to access that.

Hogan said the benefits of the expanded service for privately insured patients included timely admission and an immediate cardiology review. “Diagnostic and interventional cardiology, such as coronary angioplasty, can be offered in appropriate cases. Prompt assessment, investigation and treatment of chest pain has been shown to improve health outcomes.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Hase-Hoch-2