NEW BI-PLANE LAB FOR HEART & STROKE PATIENTS OPENS AT VALLEY BAPTIST IN HARLINGEN

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Erin Harrell
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1 PRESS Contact: RELEASE Teri Retana, Asst. Vice President of Strategic Marketing & Communication Valley Baptist Health System, Phone: (956) or NEW BI-PLANE LAB FOR HEART & STROKE PATIENTS OPENS AT VALLEY BAPTIST IN HARLINGEN 2nd Dual-Camera Cath Lab at Valley Baptist-Harlingen includes advanced equipment for heart patients, stroke & brain aneurysm patients; two bi-plane rooms also increases treatment capability for Valley patients needing electrophysiology studies of the heart HARLINGEN, March A new bi-plane Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory to treat Valley heart and stroke patients has opened at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. The new G.E. Innova IGS 630 bi-plane lab, combined with Valley Baptist s original bi-plane lab from 2012, will give the Valley increased capacity to treat heart patients, including those needing electrophysiology studies for problems with their heartbeat. The two bi-plane cath labs also enhance treatment for stroke patients; including through 3D road mapping of the brain. With the addition of the second biplane suite, the growing Harlingen area now has the ability to treat two heart or two stroke patients at the same time using advanced dual-camera technology (Valley Baptist has a total of four cath labs, and two of those labs are now biplane suites).

net NEW BI-PLANE LAB FOR HEART & STROKE PATIENTS OPENS AT VALLEY BAPTIST IN HARLINGEN 2nd Dual-Camera Cath Lab at Valley Baptist-Harlingen includes advanced equipment for heart patients, stroke &

2 Dr. Frank Mazzola and Dr. Luis Eguia, Cardiac Electrophysiologists, will be conducting specialized electrophysiology studies to help determine how to treat problems with the rhythm of the heart -- in Valley Baptist s first bi-plane lab. During these procedures, electrodes on the end of a flexible tube are threaded into the heart, to gather information on the electrical activity of the heart, and to treat abnormal heart rhythms. The new cath lab expands our capability to provide the most advanced specialized treatments to more of our patients, Dr. Mazzola said. Dr. Farley Neasman, Cardiologist, said the catheterization laboratory is able to better serve Valley patients not only because of advanced technology, but because of an experienced support staff of nurses and cardiovascular technicians at Valley Baptist. Dr. Neasman recently inserted the Valley s first miniature heart monitoring device -- about the size of a triple-a battery -- into a heart patient, in Valley Baptist s cath lab. For stroke treatment, the Valley s only two Endovascular Neurologists, Dr. Ameer Hassan and Dr. Wondwossen Tekle, have used Valley Baptist s bi-plane lab to perform the Valley s first and only treatments of stroke and brain aneurysm patients with strokereversing medications and tiny medical devices delivered through a catheter (thin tube inserted through blood vessels going to patient s brain). Valley patients will benefit from the new bi-plane lab through more precise treatment, as the technology allows physicians to see inside the blood vessels in a greater level of detail, through state-of-the-art, three-dimensional imaging. Unlike other cath labs, the new lab is equipped with two camera arms instead of one, allowing physicians to see tiny blood vessels from two angles or planes. This gives doctors more options to treat blockages and other problems in the blood vessels. For the patient, it means less radiation and less contrast dye has to be used during the procedure. Parker MacDonald, RN, BSN, CCRN, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories and Cardiac Rehabilitation Dept. at Valley Baptist, said the new bi-plane lab shows Valley Baptist s commitment to serving our community by keeping our services on the cutting edge of technology. For more information on heart and stroke treatment, consult your physician and visit

3 PHOTO Celebrating the opening of a second bi-plane Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory to treat Valley heart and stroke patients at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen are, from the left, Dr. Victoria Parada, Board-Certified Vascular Neurologist and Clinical Director of Neurosciences and the Stroke Program at Valley Baptist- Harlingen; Dr. Farley Neasman, Interventional Cardiologist; Dr. Frank Mazzola, Cardiac Electrophysiologist; Dr. Ameer Hassan, Endovascular Neurologist; and Dr. Wondwossen Tekle, Endovascular Neurologist.

Victoria Parada, Board-Certified Vascular Neurologist and Clinical Director of Neurosciences and the Stroke Program at Valley

4 PHOTO BI-PLANE CATH LAB - Equipment used in a new bi-plane cardiac catheterization laboratory at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen includes two camera arms instead of one, which allows physicians to see inside tiny blood vessels from two angles. A second bi-plane cath lab at Valley Baptist will give the Valley increased capacity to treat heart and stroke patients, including those needing electrophysiology studies for problems with their heartbeat.

5 PHOTO NEW BI-PLANE CATH LAB OPENS - A new bi-plane Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory to treat Valley heart and stroke patients has opened at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. Cutting the ribbon for the new specialized lab are, from the left, Dr. Wondwossen Tekle, Endovascular Neurologist at Valley Baptist; Dr. Victoria Parada, Board-Certified Vascular Neurologist and Clinical Director of Neurosciences and the Stroke Program at Valley Baptist-Harlingen; Todd Mann, CEO of Valley Baptist-Harlingen; Dr. Farley Neasman, Interventional Cardiologist; Dr. Ameer Hassan, Endovascular Neurologist; Parker MacDonald, RN, BSN, CCRN, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at Valley Baptist; Dr. Frank Mazzola, Cardiac Electrophysiologist; and Dorraine Lebeouf Araiza and Danny Payton, members of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

Victoria Parada, Board-Certified Vascular Neurologist and Clinical Director of Neurosciences and the Stroke Program at Valley Baptist-Harlingen; Todd Mann, CEO of Valley Baptist-Harlingen; Dr.

6 / About Valley Baptist Health System Valley Baptist Health System is an 866-bed faith-based regional health system located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is focused on helping people achieve health for life through compassionate service inspired by faith. Valley Baptist extends many of its services beyond its facilities and into local communities, offering free screenings for the community, support groups and numerous educational opportunities. For more information, visit (and

Valley Baptist extends many of its services beyond its facilities and into local communities, offering free screenings for the community,

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