Experiencing shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pains, changes in heart rate or rhythm or high blood pressure? These symptoms may indicate a heart condition. Dr. Rodney Handshoe, Dr. Hamid Nawaz, Dr. Raymon Nelson and Dr. Madhava Pally, cardiologists at the Heart and Vascular Institute at Pikeville Medical Center (PMC), specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases of the cardiovascular system. These physicians and their highly trained staff can perform a variety of tests including ECG or EKG, stress tests, echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization and more.
Upon diagnosis of heart disease or condition, a PMC cardiologist may refer the patient to a cardiac specialist, of which the Heart and Vascular Institute at PMC has nine. For example, an interventional cardiologist may carry out a stenting procedure upon review of a heart catheterization whereas an electrophysiologist may need to implant a device into the heart to reduce a patient’s risk of stroke.
PMC cardiologists often treat patients who have had a heart attack, heart failure or experienced other heart problems and diseases. In fact, Pikeville Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Institute has received prestigious accreditations from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. After a detailed review and on-site survey, PMC was awarded a Level IV Accreditation as a Chest Pain Center with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention.) This highly-acclaimed distinction made PMC one of the first five in the nation, and the first hospital in Kentucky to earn this accreditation. In addition, the Heart and Vascular Institute has been consistently named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation in patient safety for Heart Attack Treatment by CareChex. This ranking compares clinical quality, patient safety and performance of acute care hospitals providing this life-saving service.
To learn more about cardiology services offered at PMC, visit pikevillehospital.org/services/heart-and-vascular-institute. To schedule an appointment, call 606-430-2201.
