Our Services

Cardiology Services Next Steps

From the Emergency Department to a diagnosis and possibly an interventional procedure or surgery, our cardiovascular services team provides a complete continuum of care. The team, consisting of cardiovascular surgeons, cardiologists, rehabilitation specialists and support groups, helps make sure you get back on your feet as soon as possible.

Cardiology Overview

Cardiologists at Norman Regional’s Heart Center perform more than 7,000 interventional procedures a year.  All procedures are performed in a state-of-the-art cath lab facility by some of the finest physicians in the region.

The Heart & Vascular Institute

The Heart & Vascular Institute offers a full continuum of cardiac care services ranging from a 10-bed Chest Pain Center, to heart catheterization and interventional procedures, to open heart surgery. When you require care, our dedicated team is there to meet your needs, 24 hours a day.

The Chest Pain Center offers state-of-the-art emergency cardiac care. From the time patients arrive at our door to providing them proper treatment, seconds count. The Heart & Vascular Institute is designed to allow for fast assessment and action, ensuring the best possible results for our patients.

Patient rooms can convert to intensive care rooms as necessary, allowing patients to remain in one room throughout their stay.

If you are experiencing chest pain, please call 911. Emergency medical personnel are educated on treatment options and which of our facilities is best for your medical needs.

Cardiac Scoring / Heart Scans

Cardiac scoring is the best noninvasive test for measuring coronary artery calcium content. It is used to diagnose coronary artery disease in an early state and to determine its severity. Cardiac scoring is at least 10 times more powerful a predictor of coronary artery disease episodes than cholesterol screening.

Norman Regional has eight Radiologists on staff who will read the scans. If you have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, you could benefit from a heart scan offered at The HealthPlex, Moore Medical Center and Norman Regional PET/CT Center.

Cardiac scoring is a specialized scan that can determine your likelihood of developing heart disease. Scoring checks for calcium buildup in your blood vessels, which can lead to hardening of the arteries.

Risk factors for heart disease include:

  • Over age 35 for men and 40 for women
  • Family history of heart disease
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Tobacco use
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Excessive stress
  • Sedentary lifestyle

You don’t need a physician referral. The test takes about 10 minutes and only costs $100.00.

Cardiac scoring is performed, by appointment only, at all three locations Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment call 405-307-2290.

What do the Scores Mean?

A low score suggests a low likelihood of coronary artery disease, but does not exclude the possibility of significant coronary artery narrowing. The results should be discussed with your physician.

Calcium Score:

  • 0 — Very low risk for cardiovascular disease
  • 1-10 — Low risk for cardiovascular disease

  • 11-100 — Moderate risk for cardiovascular disease

  • 101-400 — High risk for cardiovascular disease

  • >401 — Very high risk for cardiovascular disease

Facts About Heart Disease:

  • More than 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women who have a heart attack show no symptoms beforehand
  • 85 percent of sudden heart attacks may be prevented if the conditions that lead to the attack are diagnosed early enough to prescribe treatment to correct the problems
  • Coronary artery disease claims more lives than lung, colon, prostate and breast cancer combined
  • 45 percent of all heart attacks occur in people younger than 65
  • 38 percent of women who have heart attacks die within a year of the attack

Health Effects of Heart Attacks:

About 70 million Americans (about 1 in 4) have some form of cardiovascular disease.
Oklahoma ranked as one of 14 states with the highest death rates due to diseases of the heart in 1999.

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Warning signs of a heart attack can vary from one individual to another. Be knowledgeable of the most common signs including:

  • Uncomfortable pressure in the center of your chest
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness, fullness or squeezing sensation
  • Pain in the jaw or neck that may radiate to arms, shoulders or back
  • Numbing or tingling in the arms
  • A feeling of anxiety
  • Dizziness or weakness
  • Sweating, nausea or vomiting
  • Chronic or severe fatigue
  • Rapid heartbeat

Dial 911 immediately if you or a loved one is suffering from any of these possible warning signs.

About Our Cardiac Rehab Program

At the Heart Center, care doesn't end when you're discharged...

Our Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is a medically supervised program of exercise and education. The primary objectives of cardiac rehabilitation are to improve your cardiovascular endurance without exceeding safe limits of exercise, to educate you and your family concerning causes and progression of heart disease, to assist in making lifestyle changes for improved health and to promote psychological adjustment. Our major goal is to enable each participant to reach his or her personal level of optimal health.