Special to the Reporter

Cardiac services at Shelby Baptist Medical Center continue to grow, providing critical access close to home for residents of Shelby County and surrounding areas.

The facility recently received a certificate of need for a third heart catheterization lab from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, according to April Holcomb of SBMC Marketing and Business Development.

Hospital President David Wilson said heart services at SBMC continue to expand.

&8220;Shelby Baptist&8217;s two cath labs have consistently operated well above the standard capacity as defined and required by the State Health Plan. Our cardiology volumes continue to grow and this is a much needed expansion,&8221; Wilson said. &8220;

We are located in the fastest growing city in the fastest growing county in Alabama.

&8220;In order to meet the needs of our community, we are growing along with it. This expansion is part of our overall facility growth plan. Our new state-of-the-art Emergency Department and expanded Womens&8217; Center will also be opening this summer.&8221;

According to Holcomb, the third cath lab will be a multi-purpose room, which will perform diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization procedures as well as diagnostic and therapeutic peripheral vascular procedures.

Shelby Baptist currently provides patients with leading edge diagnostic and treatment services for heart-related problems.

A 14-bed Cardiovascular Unit

cares for patients with heart disease and related conditions including three rooms dedicated specifically to caring for patients who have undergone open heart surgery at the facility.

In addition, echocardiograms, cardiac catheterization, cardiac angioplasty, cardiac stenting, arterial doppler evaluations, pacemaker surgical implants and cardiac rehabilitation are among the cardiology services available at the facility.