Roughly 100 people attended a Blessing and Unveiling Ceremony for the new Catheterization Laboratories at Provena Mercy Medical Center on October 28.

Provena Mercy has just installed the newest generation of catheterization equipment in two state-of-the-art cath labs for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of cardiovascular issues.

The event included speeches by Provena Mercy President and CEO James D. Witt, Interventional Cardiologist Lowell Carpenter, MD, and Interventional Radiologist Suveer B. Tatineni, MD.

Attendees took part in a prayer and blessing conducted by Father Mario Pedi, OSB of Marmion Abbey. They also toured the new laboratories.

Although cardiac catheterization lab procedures have been commonplace in cardiology for decades, the equipment used to perform procedures continues to evolve. The new labs feature Phillips equipment, known throughout the healthcare industry for outstanding image quality.

The new equipment, Philips FD20 digital imaging x-ray system uses flat panel technology,  which provides sharper images and the ability to better visualize a patient's anatomy during a procedure. 

One great advantage of the new system is the clarity of the images produced. The technology allows for viewing areas with steep angles and provides crisp images of the smallest details. With higher quality images, physicians are able to provide the best outcome for the patient. Physicians also can take fewer images thanks to the new 3-dimentional viewing on the flat panel.

In addition to higher quality images for physicians, the system also works using a lower level of radiation during fluoroscopy, or X-ray, which benefits both patients and the health care team.  Less radiation means enhanced safety.

From angioplasty to stent placement, patients are receiving top-quality, individualized care in a technologically advanced facility. Patients also receive care in the cath labs for non-cardiac procedures such as uterine fibroid embolization, kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.