Electrophysiology lab reopens at UI Health Care’s downtown campus
The modernized cardiac electrophysiology (EP) lab will expand access and reduce wait times for patients
Starting this month, patients scheduling cardiac electrophysiology procedures will now have the option to receive care at University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown.
The reopening of the EP lab — part of the cardiac catheterization lab at the downtown campus — is the latest milestone in UI Health Care’s commitment to enhancing community health care while expanding access and reducing wait times for important procedures.
Cardiac electrophysiology is the branch of cardiology focused on the heart’s electrical system. UI Health Care Heart and Vascular Center is the state’s largest and most experienced team of electrophysiologists and arrhythmia specialists.
“Electrophysiology is a critical and growing segment of our heart and vascular services at UI Health Care,” says Paari Dominic, MBBS, MPH, director of cardiac electrophysiology at UI Health Care. “Expanding access to EP procedures and reducing wait times is an important part of our commitment to providing patients convenient access to Iowa’s only comprehensive center for advanced cardiac care.”
The EP lab at the downtown campus has been upgraded and outfitted with modern technology and equipment and will be available to schedule procedures in addition to the university campus. EP procedures that will be available at the downtown campus include implanting pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) as well as cardiac ablations and cardioversions.
The downtown campus has continuously offered cardiology and interventional cardiology services, but EP services had been suspended before the downtown campus became a part of UI Health Care in early 2024.
“Having worked in cardiology at the downtown campus for seven years, it’s gratifying to see the EP lab open once again so our patients can more quickly receive their devices and procedures, with the same team of EP experts they see at the university campus,” says Spas Kotev, MD, medical director of cardiology at UI Health Care’s downtown campus.
The electrophysiology team will continue to see all patients for clinic appointments at the university campus, but with the reopening of this lab, patients will be scheduled at either campus for EP procedures, depending on the first available opening. The downtown campus lab will provide more capacity, reducing wait times for patients to receive their procedures with the same trusted team of experts.
“Opening the new EP lab is one more way UI Health Care is demonstrating its commitment to investing in the downtown campus and providing world-class health care at all locations,” says Jennifer Miller, MHA, MPH, RD, chief administrative officer of UI Health Care Medical Center Downtown.
