New hospital cath lab expands capacity to treat heart attack, stroke
With the opening of its third state-of-the-art catheterization (cath) lab, Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital continues to be the most comprehensive cardiac center in Sonoma County.
Since 2022, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital has rebuilt three cath labs, allowing hospital staff to care for more than 40 cardiovascular and vascular patients per day. That’s more than 7,000 patients per year.
“We are the only hospital in the North Bay, all the way to Eureka and beyond, to perform structural heart procedures,” said Sanjay Dhar, M.D., director of Northbay Cardiology Clinic. “We are the designated hospital for these complex, difficult procedures.”
Dr. Dhar notes that other local hospitals transfer many of their cardiac patients to Santa Rosa Memorial. “We have become the hub for advanced tertiary and cardiology care,” he added.
Having state-of-the-art x-ray equipment available makes cath procedures faster and more precise. The specialized imaging equipment provides a high-resolution, three-dimensional image for delicate procedures, such as replacing heart valves without opening the patient.
These updated cath labs do more than improve the speed and quality of patient care; it also reduces radiation exposure for hospital personnel. Wendy Dunnagan, MSN, RN, director of nursing, cardiovascular services, notes that while wearing a 10-pound lead apron “is a great core workout,” now staff do not need to wear them as long.
In addition to cardiac care, the cath lab is also used to treat cancer, dialysis, oncology, renal patients, and other conditions. In addition, Santa Rosa Memorial is home to the only electrophysiologist in the area who treats atrial fibrillation and other ailments in the cath lab.
Adding a third cath lab allows Santa Rosa Memorial staff to treat multiple patients simultaneously, including emergent cases. As the region’s only level II trauma center, Memorial is the first stop for many patients after a stroke, injury or accident. Dunnagan stressed that this increased capacity helps ensure patients get the care they need quickly.
“If somebody's actively having a heart attack and they're coming to us, it gives us the availability to get somebody onto the procedure table and treated right away, without delaying other people who might have planned procedures,” said Dunnagan.
The renovation of these cath labs was funded by 452 community members, including key contributions from Norma Person in memory of Evert Person, Ron and Eileen Nelson in memory of Brent Nelson, The Estate of Gary E. Rasche, and Don and Sally Risberg.
