Cardiology
Cardiology is the medical treatment of diseases of the heart and parts of the circulatory system. Cardiologists are the doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating these conditions.
Heart and vascular care in Kansas City
When faced with a condition where every minute counts, you want the best lifesaving treatments and technology as well as the expertise of an experienced team of heart care specialists.
At Research Medical Center, a part of HCA Midwest Health, we excel at the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Health Risk Assessments
Answering a few questions can help you determine if you need to speak to your doctor.
Answering a few questions can help you determine if you need to speak to your doctor.
Our heart specialists — cardiologists and cardiac surgeons — trained at some of the most prestigious cardiology programs in the country, including Harvard, Stanford and the Mayo Clinic. These experts conduct research to discover new techniques to reverse blocked heart arteries, prevent strokes and strengthen weakened hearts.
We operate the largest abdominal aortic aneurysm stent graft program in the region and are part of the area's only accredited chest pain network.
Structural Heart Center
The Structural Heart Center at Research Medical Center offers leading-edge treatments for people with heart disease related to structural abnormalities or damage.
Patients can be referred to the Structural Heart Program by a primary care physician or cardiologist. To speak with our Structural Heart Program coordinator, call (816) 276-9050.
Coronary calcium scoring
Research Medical Center's Brookside Campus offers coronary calcium scoring, a convenient and noninvasive form of heart screening that evaluates a person's risk for a heart attack. A computerized tomography (CT) scan for a coronary calcium score is a convenient and noninvasive way of evaluating an individual's risk for a heart attack.
This scan shows the location and extent of calcified plaque and soft plaque in the walls of coronary arteries. The coronary calcium scoring scan takes five to 10 minutes and is noninvasive, so there’s no pain and no injections. The results of this scan help detect coronary artery disease, which is a leading cause of heart attack in men and women.
This test is not covered by most health insurance or health plans, and a doctor's order is required. The fee for the test is $50 payable by check, credit card or cash at the time of service.
Who may need coronary calcium scoring?
Men who are 35 to 70 years old and women who are 40 to 70 years old who have any of these risk factors:
- Family history of heart disease, including heart attack
- History of smoking or current smoker
- A diabetes diagnosis
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Overweight
For more information or to schedule a coronary calcium scoring appointment, please call the Research Medical Center Brookside Campus' scheduling department at (816) 276-7668.
Want to know if you or a loved one are at risk for heart disease? Take our free Heart Risk Assessment.
Clinical trials
The HCA Midwest Health clinical research program offers another therapeutic option for patients through clinical trials.
Our cardiac procedures
Patients can receive an extensive range of cardiac care, including cardiac catheterization, open-heart surgery, cardiac rehab and medical management for many conditions.
Chronic total occlusion
Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is the total blockage of a coronary artery caused by heavy plaque buildup. To treat this condition, your doctor will steer special guide wires and catheters across the blockages to improve the artery's blood flow.
Chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention (CTO PCI) is a procedure that allows a physician to approach the blockage in several ways. This procedure uses a combination of advanced imaging procedures and the next generation of tiny coronary equipment. It's minimally invasive, so most patients can go home the next day.
This revolutionary procedure can successfully reverse symptoms and improve heart function for patients who thought they had run out of options.
Aortic stenosis and TAVR
With aging can come the narrowing of the aortic valve, a major valve of the heart. This can present symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, fainting and an inability to complete daily activities like getting dressed and walking.
Traditionally, patients would need open-heart surgery to replace the valve. But this type of major surgery can be dangerous for frail or elderly patients. Fortunately, a successful minimally invasive alternative is now available — transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
TAVR can replace a patient's aortic valve through an incision in the leg. With clinical trials illustrating the successes of TAVR, doctors are using this method for patients who are younger and at a lower risk.
Other procedures we provide include:
- Transcatheter mitral valve treatment
- Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR)
- Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr)
- Mitral valve balloon valvotomy
- Atrial septal defect/patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure
- Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC)
Complex electrophysiology procedures
- Complex arrhythmia management (atrial fibrillation, VTACH, PVC and SVT)
- Convergent Afib ablation (with cardiothoracic surgeon and electrophysiologist)
- Inappropriate sinus tachycardia procedure (with cardiothoracic surgeon and electrophysiologist)
- Lead extraction
- Leadless pacemakers & internal cardiac defibrillators
- Left atrial appendage closure
Patient recovery
While in the hospital, you'll be cared for in our intensive care or telemetry units. Research Medical Center provides a close nurse-to-patient ratio in a private, quiet setting where you'll be constantly monitored wirelessly in the privacy of your room or while walking in the hall.
Our patients and their families love the personalized care they receive from our nursing staff. The waiting area offers privacy, comfort and support for our patients' families while they stay in the ICU.
Cardiac rehabilitation
The accredited cardiac rehabilitation program at Research Medical Center is a medically supervised exercise program designed to improve cardiovascular health for people who have or are at high risk for heart disease. Patients enrolled in this program are given tailored support and guidance in achieving cardiovascular fitness through exercise and nutrition.
Program staff provides counseling and continuing education to help patients control or eliminate cardiac risk factors and make a lifetime commitment to a heart-healthy lifestyle outside of the hospital.
Care Connect
Care Connect is an initiative we created to make healthcare easier to navigate. It connects you to the right care at the right time to keep you and your loved ones healthy.
With Care Assure, one of Care Connect's programs, we can automatically screen the results of tests that a doctor may perform during an emergency or office visit to help identify warning signs and prevent emergencies such as a heart attack or a stroke.
If the results show that you're at risk for an emergency, a specially trained nurse will contact you to connect you to the follow-up care you'll need to help prevent future problems.
Patient stories
Cardiology