Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital has opened a fourth cardiac catheterization lab in partnership with regional health care entities to enhance cardiac care for the community.

This combination lab improves efficiency because it serves both cardiologists who specialize in interventional cardiac needs and structural heart disease, as well as electrophysiologists who focus on the heart’s electrical system. It is the only combination lab on the Western Slope, said Sarah Herrera, manager of clinical cardiovascular services.

Over the past five years, St. Mary’s cath labs have seen an increase in patient volume. The addition of a fourth lab directly addresses this growing demand, ensuring that patients have greater access to timely and comprehensive heart care.

“St. Mary’s is committed to providing top-tier heart services locally, so patients don’t have to travel out of town for advanced heart care,” said Bryan Johnson, president of St. Mary’s. “We know that when people can get care close to home, they are closer to family, don’t need to take as much time away from work, and have a better overall experience.”

The new lab enables the hospital to conduct routine, scheduled procedures while maintaining the capacity to respond to emergencies as they arise.

The hospital offers a full spectrum of heart services, including structural heart procedures such as minimally invasive heart valve procedures; interventional cardiology, including stent placement to treat sudden cardiac arrest; and electrophysiology procedures to treat conditions such as irregular heartbeat.