Advanced Cardiac Services Are Close to Home
If you or a loved one has a personal or family history of cardiovascular disease or coronary artery disease, has suffered a heart attack, or has a heart failure diagnosis, Aiken Regional Medical Centers can help. Cardiologists at Aiken have long been at the forefront of providing the region with advanced, quality care for cardiovascular health conditions. We offer a wide range of medical treatments and services to help you on your heart-healthy journey.
Quality Standards
At the Cardiovascular Institute of Carolina at Aiken Regional, we have built a reputation for delivering quality heart care.
- We consistently rank among the top hospitals in the United States for quality measures in heart attack (acute myocardial infarction) care.
- Our echocardiography and vascular acute labs are also accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s highest healthcare standards-setting organization.
- Our specialists actively participate in initiatives that continually improve treatment and care for those suffering from a heart attack (myocardial infarction), congestive heart failure or need surgery.
- Cardiologists consistently achieve door-to-balloon-times (a best practice guideline measuring the time between arrival at the hospital and treatment for patients having a heart attack) of less than 60 minutes. This is far faster than the national standard of 90 minutes.
Find a Cardiologist
To make an appointment with a cardiologist, please contact our physician referral line at 803-761-6970 or search for a physician online.
Awards and Accreditations
- U.S. News & World Report High Performing Hospital for Heart Failure and Heart Attack (2024-25)
- Certified as a Primary Heart Attack Center (PHAC) and an Advanced Heart Failure Center by The Joint Commission and American Heart Association® (AHA)
- U.S. News & World Report High Performing Hospital for Heart Failure and Stroke (2023-24)
- 2024 Get With The Guidelines® Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- 2024 Get With The Guidelines® Heart Failure GOLD PLUS with Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- 2024 Get With The Guidelines® Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- 2024 Get With The Guidelines® Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Silver with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
Services
Our patient-centered continuum of care at the Cardiovascular Institute of Carolina includes a wide range of treatment services.
Heart Failure Program
The goal of the Heart Failure Program is to help people with congestive heart failure (cardiomyopathy or heart failure) improve their quality of life, while decreasing the need for hospitalization. The CardioMEMS™ HF System is an advanced technology for the remote management of heart failure.
Micra® Pacemaker for Arrhythmia
Unlike conventional pacemakers, the minimally invasive Micra® Pacemaker does not require pacing leads or a pacemaker pocket to place the device. It's about an inch long and a quarter-inch wide, and placed directly in the heart through a catheter inserted in a large vein in the groin. The Micra® takes considerably less time to place than traditional pacemakers, yet has a similar 7-to-10 year battery life. The Micra® can be used in patients of any age, but is particularly suited for older individuals in frail health.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
The Aiken Cardiac Rehabilitation Program offers robust support, individualized for each patient to help them maintain the best heart health possible. The program is provided through a joint venture with the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) and volunteers from the Mended Hearts organization.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Procedures performed using minimally invasive and open-heart techniques to restore blood flow, repair or replace valves and treat damaged lungs.
Electrophysiology (Arrhythmia Management)
Procedures to manage or eliminate heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmia).
Interventional Cardiology
Minimally invasive procedures performed in the catheterization laboratory to diagnose and treat blocked arteries, heart rhythm disorders and other conditions.
Pulmonary/Valvular Disease Treatments
Treatments for pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary valvular disease.
Advanced Technology
Aiken Regional Medical Centers has a reputation for embracing the latest technologies. We are proud that many of the cardiac care services offered were first introduced to the region by Aiken’s team of heart specialists. We were the area’s first to perform diagnostic cardiac catheterization, coronary balloon angioplasty, coronary stenting, and open-heart surgery, among other procedures.
With a broad spectrum of sophisticated, patient-driven heart care ranging from advanced diagnostic imaging and emergency intervention to minimally invasive treatments and rehabilitation, Aiken Regional Medical Centers remains a leader in keeping hearts healthy. Our advanced catheterization lab enables physicians to treat more patients with heart attacks, stroke and vascular disease, while shortening procedure time.
Advanced imaging technologies at Aiken Regional Medical Centers produce clearer, more detailed images, making it easier for doctors to diagnose patients and perform interventional procedures quickly and accurately. This includes diagnosing and opening blocked blood vessels, installing endovascular stent grafts, implanting pacemakers and biventricular assist devices and repairing atrial septal defects.
Recent Advanced Technology at Aiken Regional Medical Centers
Unlike conventional pacemakers, the minimally invasive Micra® Pacemaker does not require pacing leads or a pacemaker pocket to place the device. The Micra® also takes considerably less time to place, yet has a similar 7-to-10 year battery life as a traditional pacemaker. The Micra® can be used in patients of any age, but is particularly suited for older individuals in frail health.
If you’re taking blood-thinning medication for Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (AF) to help reduce your risk of blood clots and stroke, the WATCHMAN FLX™ Pro Implant for Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (AF) may offer an easier treatment for you, adding an extra layer of safety and enhancing your quality of life. The device is designed to work as a safety net by closing off the left atrial appendage (LAA) to help prevent blood clots and stroke. Ask your cardiologist if the WATCHMAN FLX Pro Implant is a better treatment for you.
Meet Our Experienced Team
The multidisciplinary team at the Cardiovascular Institute of Carolina, consisting of board-certified cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, nurses, technologists, dietitians and therapists, provides comprehensive diagnostic services and treatments for both routine and complex cardiac and vascular conditions. This includes emergency intervention, minimally invasive procedures and rehabilitation for a wide spectrum of conditions affecting the heart. Specially trained and highly dedicated cardiologists at Aiken Regional Medical Centers are committed to diagnosing and treating your heart using advanced technologies and techniques that are appropriate for each individual.
Prevention is also a key factor in cardiac care, since managing risk factors early in patients’ lives can help them to avoid problems that may require interventional procedures in the future. Determining one’s cardiac risk factors can be based on family and personal history, including conditions related to heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes (metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes), heart failure, complex valve disease, blocked arteries, congenital heart defects and more. Diagnostic procedures may include genetic testing, blood testing, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, to name a few. Our cardiologists can then create individualized and customized cardiac-care prevention plans, focused on diet, lifestyle and other factors.
Our team of highly experienced cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, surgeons, and therapists understand that each person’s heart is different. We take an individualized approach to care, and have access to the most advanced technologies and techniques to precisely diagnose and treat heart disease effectively.
Living with heart disease can be scary, but Aiken Regional Medical Centers is with you and committed to keeping your heart as healthy as can be, at any stage. Whether you’re seeking diagnostic, therapeutic or rehabilitation services, we can help.
Patient Story: Suzanne Rye Lowe
Suzanne had an angioplasty procedure at Aiken Regional that saved her life after having a heart attack.