Merit announces heart program
Merit Health Heart is the new umbrella name for the network’s multidisciplinary specialists in cardiology, imaging, nutrition and cardiovascular surgery, who are working together to prevent and treat heart disease through advanced care and services to heart patients in the Jackson metropolitan, Vicksburg and Hattiesburg areas. Merit Health has continually invested in resources to advance cardiac services and recruit providers to enhance local access to care.
“When you put your heart in our hands, you get the benefit of our skilled, experienced cardiovascular specialists and Merit Health Heart’s collaborative approach,” said Greg Oden, MD, chief medical officer of the Merit Health Jackson/Vicksburg market. “Our mission is to provide complete heart care services -- from helping patients create a heart-healthy lifestyle to performing potentially lifesaving procedures in emergency situations. Advanced medical technology and procedures allow our cardiac professionals to detect and diagnose heart disease from the earliest stages, when it can be treated most effectively.”
Merit Health Heart’s team of 13 cardiovascular physician experts continues to grow to meet the needs of patients with heart-related medical issues. Two interventional cardiologists, Brian L. Walton, MD, and Julia Thompson, MD, recently joined Merit Health Medical Group’s Flowood clinic. They join Jackson area interventional cardiologists Abdul G. Bahro, MD and Qasim Cheema, MD and cardiologist Richard Rayford, MD, PhD, FACC; Vicksburg interventional cardiologist Paul Pierce, IV, MD and cardiologist Murray Whitaker, MD and Hattiesburg interventional cardiologists F. Alan Covin, MD, FACC; Karl Duncan, MD; Kurt Duncan, MD, FSCAI; and electrophysiology (EP) cardiologist Ronald Jones, MD, FACC. The practice also consists of cardiovascular surgeons Fidel Sendra, MD, who covers Jackson and Vicksburg, and Gregory Groglio, MD, in Hattiesburg, as well as a team of nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Located in Jackson, Merit Health Central and its heart services include cardiovascular diagnosis and imaging, heart failure care, heart rhythm disorders, interventional cardiology, vascular medicine and cardiovascular surgery. The hospital is an accredited chest pain center with primary PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention), a procedure to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries in order to relieve symptoms of heart disease or reduce heart damage before or after a heart attack.
Merit Health River Oaks, based in Flowood, is also an accredited chest pain center. The facility offers cardiovascular diagnosis and imaging, interventional cardiology and vascular medicine. It is also chest pain accredited with primary PCI and is the first hospital to gain approval to offer 24-hour interventional cardiac catheterization care without on-site surgical services. This newer service allows more clinically complex care to heart patients when time is of the essence.
Merit Health River Region in Vicksburg provides cardiovascular diagnosis and imaging, interventional cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, cardiac rehab and vascular medicine. This facility is an accredited chest pain center and was the first hospital in Mississippi to achieve this designation.
Merit Health Wesley, located in Hattiesburg, is an American Heart Association accredited Cardiovascular Center of Excellence. In addition, they are an accredited chest pain center, accredited in heart failure care and accredited in treating atrial fibrillation. They offer comprehensive heart and vascular care specializing in complex vascular conditions. Services also include imaging, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiovascular surgery and cardiac rehab.
For more information about Merit Health Heart and services, visit MeritHealthHeart.com..