The unit is devoted solely to non-interventional cardiac diagnostic procedures, helping to reduce delays that often are encountered at units combining non-interventional and interventional procedures.  The latter typically treat more serious cardiac conditions, entail more lengthy and complex protocols, and require many patients to stay overnight at the hospital.  The limited scope of the non-interventional catheterizations usually means the duration of treatment is predictable. This, in turn, generally allows scheduled patient appointment times to be met without delays.

The new outpatient cardiac unit at Des Peres Hospital incorporates other features designed to be "patient friendly."  A special parking lot dedicated to the unit's patients is located right outside the cath lab's special, canopied entrance.  Patients are registered directly to the cath lab in a comfortable and relaxing registration area.  

Unlike outpatient cath labs built at sites away from hospitals, the new facility's location on the Des Peres campus offers rapid access to the hospital's interventional cath lab.  This provides nearby cardiac care such as stent implantation or heart bypass surgery, if needed.

Michele Meyer, Chief Executive Officer at Des Peres Hospital, said the outpatient facility, with curbside parking, offers the convenience of an outpatient location with the added security of immediate hospital access to handle serious situations.

"If an outpatient develops a serious condition or problem, the patient can be treated immediately in our hospital cardiac department. The location is an advantage to both patients and their physicians," Meyer said.

The new cardiac cath lab is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. It has its own address, 2335 Dougherty Ferry Road, which is easily reached once on the Des Peres Hospital campus.

Physicians or members of the public desiring additional information about the unit may telephone 314-966-9155.

Des Peres Hospital, a 167-licensed bed facility, is one of five hospitals owned by Tenet in the St. Louis area.  The others are Forest Park Hospital, Saint Louis University Hospital, SouthPointe Hospital and St. Alexius Hospital.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates 114 acute care hospitals and related businesses serving communities in 17 states.  The company, which has headquarters in Santa Barbara, Calif., employs approximately 111,000 people nationwide.  Tenet provides central support services to its hospitals from a Dallas-based operations center.