DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE

the Department of Medicine offers general internal medicine services as well as specialty services via the following divisions:

ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY

The Allergy Division's outpatient ambulatory center focuses on the diagnosis and long-term treatment of allergy respiratory illnesses such as asthma and hay fever. Consultations are also available for patients who experience allergic reactions to medications and other substances.

CARDIOLOGY

The Cardiology Department is responsible for evaluating and treating patients who have heart disease. This includes a staff of cardiologists available to provide consultations for patients with known or suspected heart disease, on both an inpatient and outpatient basis, including taking pictures of the arteries bringing blood to the heart. Additionally, the cardiac catheterization laboratory is equipped to provide percutaneous coronary artery interventions, a procedure whereby patients presenting with certain types of heart attacks (acute myocardial infarctions), or abrupt blockages of one of the arteries feeding the heart, can have it opened with a balloon and/or stent.

A full non-invasive laboratory is available. Tests performed include:

* Electrocardiograms, which allow the electrical activity of the heart to be examined
* Echocardiograms, which use sound waves to take pictures of the heart to assess how it is working (both transthoracic and transesophageal)
* Stress tests, both chemical and exercise, with and without imaging modalities (nuclear and echocardiographic) to assess the blood flow to the heart and the f*/ unction of the heart with exercise
* Holter monitors
* Event recorders
* Tilt table testing
* Nuclear wall motion studies
* Signal-averaging electrocardiography
* Pacemaker evaluation
* Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Non-invasive treatment of coronary artery disease with enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) for angina, is available in patients who are not candidates for angioplasty/stenting or coronary artery bypass surgery, but who have continued chest pain/angina.

A staff of cardiologists is available to provide consultation for patients with heart disease.

by luisa natalia sierra parada