The region’s first Cardiac Unit dedicated to the special care required for patients who are recovering from open heart surgery, heart attacks or vascular surgery was opened at Kadlec in 2009. Patients may be admitted directly to the Cardiac Unit or transferred from the ICU once stabilized.

The 11-bed unit allows patients, who once might have utilized intensive care beds, to now be cared for in a specialized area that focuses on their needs. This opens up the ICU space for sicker patients. The Cardiac Unit will do multiple cardiac medications and can handle all aspects of care from the intensive needs to the more stable patient.

Cardiac patients are a special patient population; they are often very sick when they arrive at the hospital. Their heart problems create a situation where they can benefit from close cardiac monitoring and a staff specifically trained in cardiac care. This unit has a higher staff to patient ratio than the general medical floors and gives staff time to work with the patients and their families on some of the lifestyle changes that are necessary to prevent further heart damage.

The Cardiac Unit is staffed by nurses who have undergone special training in post-surgical care including cardiac and vascular surgeries, pacemaker insertion and monitoring of patients who have had heart attacks.