Cardiovascular Center
The Cardiovascular Center at Carolinas Medcial Center-Union provides care for patients with heart and cardiovascular disease with the convenience of care close to home. Some of the region's finest cardiologists, radiologists and internal medicine specialists practice in Union County and at CMC-Union. The Cardiovascular Center offers a full range of cardiac diagnostic services including outpatient heart catheterizations, pacemakers and invasive vascular and non-vascular radiology procedures. Additionally, the Cardiovascular Center performs angioplasty, stent placement and thrombectomy on peripheral vessels.

The Cardiovascular Center is staffed by Registered Nurses with critical care experience, Registered Radiologic and Cardiovascular Technologists specializing in cardiovascular procedures and cardiovascular technicians. Our staff attends educational seminars and trains frequently to provide you with the latest technology and procedures.

Computerized catheterization techniques allow cardiologists and radiologists to view the heart, blood vessels, liver, urinary tract, digestive tract and other areas of the body from many angles. The Cardiovascular Center, which installed state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment in 2000, is the first totally cineless lab within Carolinas HealthCare System, greatly reducing radiation exposure. Our Lab utilizes high-tech storage measures for x-ray images, allowing for faster and more accessible telecommunications of procedures to other medical centers.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Hosted by the Cardiovascular Center, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program provides a comprehensive approach to the rehabilitation for patients dealing with heart disease. The goal of this program is to help patients return to a level of activity appropriate for a healthy lifestyle and to reduce their cardiovascular risk factors.

An exercise prescription, nutritional guidelines and lifestyle assessment are developed for each person. Patient education classes are held in each discipline to allow patients to understand cardiovascular disease and their treatment program.

The program work area is equipped with treadmills, stationary bicycles, rowing machines, stair climbers, hand weights, ECG monitoring equipment, and emergency defibrillator and supplies. The program staff includes an exercise physiologist, a registered nurse, a registered dietitian, a clinical counselor, a vocational rehabilitation counselor and a medical director.

Patients are accepted into the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program through a physician referral. Eligible patients include those who have undergone coronary bypass surgery, PTCA (angioplasty), stents, heart attack, or heart transplant. Those with angina, congestive heart failure, and other forms of heart disease may also benefit from our program, which is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

The Cardiac Rehab Program meets for exercise and educational sessions Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Union Medical Plaza, Suite C, 1423 E. Franklin Street in Monroe.

For more information about the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, call 704-226-2095 or e-mail.