Heart care at FirstHealth did not begin with the opening of Reid Heart Center. Long before its doors opened, physicians and care teams were already diagnosing, treating and saving lives across the region — building a heart program grounded in skill, experience and trust.
What Reid Heart Center brought 15 years ago was a pivotal next chapter: a dedicated, purpose-built space designed to bring heart services together under one roof to support patients across the full spectrum of cardiovascular needs — from early diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment to complex intervention and long-term management.
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery: Advanced Care, Close to Home
The cardiothoracic and vascular surgery program at FirstHealth reflects a level of expertise more commonly found at large academic medical centers—delivered within a community-based setting. Within Reid Heart Center, surgeons provide comprehensive surgical care for diseases affecting the heart, blood vessels, lungs and chest, offering patients advanced options without the need to travel far from home.
Cardiothoracic surgical services include coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve repair and replacement, and complex aortic procedures such as ascending aortic aneurysm repair and aortic root replacement.
The team also performs advanced procedures for atrial fibrillation, including minimally invasive MAZE procedures. The program’s depth of experience is reflected in outcomes. The program has earned a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)—the highest possible distinction—for care and outcomes in isolated CABG procedures, a nationally benchmarked measure widely regarded as one of the most rigorous indicators of cardiac surgical quality. Advanced minimally invasive and robotic techniques are also used in select thoracic and oncologic procedures, supporting faster recovery while maintaining surgical precision.
These capabilities reflect years of programmatic growth and ongoing investment in training and technology. This expertise extends to vascular surgery, where surgeons treat a wide range of vascular conditions.
The program was among the first non-academic hospitals in the state to offer transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR)—a minimally invasive approach that restores blood flow to the brain while significantly reducing stroke risk. While surgery remains essential for many patients, advances in catheter-based and rhythm-focused treatments now allow others to receive effective care with less invasive approaches.
Interventional & Structural Cardiology: Expanding Options through Innovation
The cardiac catheterization labs at Reid Heart Center play a critical role in both diagnosis and treatment, supporting a wide range of interventional procedures. Interventional cardiologists perform everything from diagnostic catheterizations to advanced percutaneous coronary interventions, including treatment for chronic total occlusions—one of the most complex forms of coronary artery disease.
These procedures restore blood flow, relieve symptoms and, in many cases, help patients avoid open-heart surgery. FirstHealth’s structural heart program has further expanded treatment options at Reid Heart Center.
In 2013, FirstHealth became the first in the region to offer transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), bringing a minimally invasive alternative to traditional heart valve replacement requiring open-heart surgery. The program has continued to advance valve care with procedures such as MitraClip, a treatment for patients with a leaky mitral valve who may not be able to undergo traditional surgery.
Advanced programs and treatments like CardioMEMS enable proactive heart failure management for patients, allowing physicians to remotely monitor the function of the heart. The Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) brings rapid, coordinated care to patients facing life-threatening blood clots—demonstrating the power of collaboration in critical moments.
Electrophysiology: Precision Care for Heart Rhythm Disorders
When the heart’s rhythm is disrupted, symptoms can range from inconvenient to lifealtering. Reid Heart Center’s electrophysiology services provide comprehensive care for patients with arrhythmias, supported by advanced technology and specialized expertise.
Care ranges from straightforward ablations to complex procedures for atrial fibrillation and other rhythm disorders.
Newer approaches, including pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation, allow physicians to treat abnormal electrical pathways with increased precision while minimizing impact on surrounding tissue. The program also offers implantable loop recorders to capture difficult-to-detect rhythm abnormalities, as well as the Watchman™ procedure for patients with atrial fibrillation who need an alternative to long-term blood thinners.
Reid Heart Center is among the top Watchman implanting sites in the state, reflecting both experience and consistent outcomes in stroke prevention care. Care that Continues Beyond the Hospital Heart care doesn’t end with a procedure or hospital stay.
Reid Heart Center supports patients through comprehensive outpatient services, including general cardiology, a specialized heart failure clinic, a lipid clinic that offers expertise in treatment of cholesterol disorders and cardio-oncology for patients whose cancer treatments affect heart health.
These services focus on prevention, monitoring and long-term management — helping patients navigate chronic conditions, reduce future risk and maintain quality of life.
Looking Ahead
In recent years, the strength of Reid Heart Center’s programs has naturally expanded its reach beyond the traditional service area, with patients from neighboring and more distant communities choosing Reid Heart Center for comprehensive, advanced heart care.
Through ongoing investment in technology, expertise and collaboration, the program remains focused on meeting patients’ needs today while preparing for what’s next.
