Ottumwa Regional Announces Major Service Expansion with Cardiac Cath Lab

OTTUMWA-  “We are pleased to announce Ottumwa Regional will be building a new Cardiac Catheterization Lab in Ottumwa. The addition of a cardiac cath lab to our care capabilities solidifies the hospital's mission; offering our patients and their families a place to receive exceptional care, which will now include cardiac diagnostic and interventional procedures,” said Tom Siemers, President and CEO.

Ottumwa Regional Health Center received the approval under Iowa Code sections 135.61 to 135.83., on Wednesday December 2, to build the $966,366 facility. The commission praised Ottumwa Regional for presenting compelling evidence through a Certificate of Need (CON) process.  Ottumwa Regional included over 50 letters of support from the community to the commission hearing, and the panel of 5 commissioners unanimously approved the request to build the cath lab in Ottumwa.

Ottumwa’s application was boosted by support from the two tertiary medical centers in Des Moines, Mercy Medical Center and Iowa Methodist.  The two major cardiology groups in Des Moines, Iowa Heart, which recently merged with Mercy Medical Center, and Heart & Vascular of the Iowa Clinic also wrote letters of support.  Both cardiology groups are planning on providing cardiologists to work in the lab. 

Ottumwa Regional Health Center already has a fulltime cardiologist on staff, Dr. Mudassir Malik, part of Iowa Heart cardiology group.  “We’re fortunate to have Dr. Malik who will lead our efforts to lead this new service,” said Dr. Marc Hines, President of the Medical Staff at Ottumwa Regional.  

Current standards as recommended by the State of Iowa Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Taskforce, American College of Cardiologist (ACC), and the American Heart Association (AHA), recommend heart attack patients receive intervention in a catheterization lab within 90 minutes from the onset of the heart attack. Because ORHC is located 90 miles away from Des Moines and Iowa City, a patient can seldom be cathed as soon as required by guidelines unless catheterization is available in Ottumwa.  The time for traveling, from the time the patient presents at ORHC and then is transferred to another facility by ground ambulance or by air ambulance is greatly in excess of the 90 minute standard.  Also the air ambulance is unavailable approximately 30% of the time because of inclement weather, maintenance or transporting other patients.

“With the addition of this new service many patients will no longer have to be transported to Des Moines or Iowa City for diagnosis and treatment for certain types of heart problems,” said Dr. Sadia Sait, Internal Medicine Specialist.

Ottumwa Regional is anticipating beginning service in July of 2010.