Specialized Clinics
Pacemaker Clinic | Coumadin Clinic |Vein Clinic | Weight Loss Clinic | Heart Failure Clinic | HIV Clinic | Treatment Room
Pacemaker Clinic
A pacemaker is a small device that is placed just under the skin in the chest to help control abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too slow, too fast, or with an irregular rhythm.
During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump a sufficient amount of blood to the body. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue (tiredness), shortness of breath, or fainting. In cases of severe arrhythmias, damage to the body's vital organs can occur and may even cause a loss of consciousness or death.
A pacemaker can help to improve symptoms such as fatigue and fainting, and help patients become more active.
Advanced Cardiac Specialists has a program that is dedicated to monitoring the function of our patient’s pacemakers. Trained professionals use special computerized equipment to ensure that the pacemaker is operating normally. It is occasionally necessary to fine-tune the settings of the pacemaker. These adjustments are performed in our offices for the convenience of our patients.
Below is a link to a video animation from www.nhs.uk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cDSVytVGhc
A coronary angiogram is a special X-ray test that is done to find out if your coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood to the heart) are narrowed or blocked. Before the test begins, a sedative will be given through an intravenous (IV) line. You will lie down on a narrow table in a room with special X-ray equipment. The doctor will inject a numbing medication, usually in the groin. A thin tube, called a catheter, will be inserted into an artery in the groin and carefully passed up to the heart. The doctor will watch the catheter move along the artery on special X-ray images. Once the catheter is in place, dye will be injected through the catheter. The dye shows up on the X-ray images. Images will be taken of the dye moving through the arteries. These images show the doctor if there are any blockages in the coronary arteries. The procedure usually lasts 30-60 minutes. After the test you will be moved to a recovery area where you will be monitored by nurses. The doctor will study the images to see if there are any blockages. The doctor will talk with you about the results of the angiogram before you leave.
The ACS Coumadin Clinics, the first in the Valley, provide a new finger-stick method of blood analysis, approved by the FDA in 1997. This test is performed in the doctor’s office, eliminates the need for painful blood draws, and ensures that accurate results are available within two minutes. Any adjustment to the medication dosage will be made immediately, in consultation with a physician.
Vein Clinic
Varicose veins are superficial veins that are swollen and enlarged. They often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging. Healthy veins have a series of one-way valves that allow blood to flow in only one direction, toward the deeper veins and eventually back to the heart. When the valves become weakened the veins may not properly return blood from the lower leg to the heart. This can cause blood to back up and pool in your veins. As blood pools in the vein, pressure builds and the vessel wall weakens. As a result, the vein bulges and twists. Varicose veins may cause symptoms such as itching, burning, throbbing, aching and heaviness that may worsen toward the end of the day or after sitting or standing for long periods of time. More severe cases can lead to swelling and discoloration of the ankles, ulceration of the skin and sometimes bleeding.
The Advanced Vein and Vascular Institute at Advanced Cardiac Specialists offers a state of the art treatment for varicose veins called Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA). RFA is a minimally invasive treatment with less pain and less bruising compared to traditional vein stripping surgery and laser treatment. The procedure involves making a very small incision near the knee and threading a small catheter in the vein up to the groin. Radiofrequency waves are applied using controlled heat, which causes collagen in the vein wall to shrink and the vein to close. After the vein is sealed shut, blood simply reroutes to healthy veins. Painful symptoms are relieved and the surface of the leg becomes smoother. This procedure is done as an outpatient and within a day or two patients are usually back to their normal activities.
Below is a link to an excellent animation from Aesthetic Medicines on youtube of the Radiofrequency Ablation procedure:
Example of a leg that has been treated by Radiofrequency Ablation:
Weight Loss Clinic
Coming Soon
Heart Failure Clinic
Coming Soon
HIV Clinic
HIV clinic provides outpatient primary medical care services for HIV individuals.
It is a disease that affects millions of people.
ACS providers are well educated in appropriate diagnostic testing, obtaining medical histories, diagnosing common physical and mental conditions, prescribing and managing medication therapy, education and counseling on health and nutritional issues, and continuing care and management of chronic conditions. When integrating HIV patient’s into our practice our goal is to develop a comprehensive plan to manage and provide quality patient care.
Hours of Operation: By Appointment
Treatment Room
The treatment room is staffed with registered nurses who monitor, triage, and treat patients in an acute care setting under a provider’s supervision. Patients may present to the office and be placed in the treatment room for chest pain, shortness of breath, dehydration, or other concerns. The staff in the treatment room also prepares patients for non-invasive stress testing, and assists the providers in other in-house procedures and tests.