Caring for your heart, close to home

After decades of service to the folks in Webster Parish, it only seems fitting that the newly-named Heart and Vascular Center at Minden Medical Center will continue that tradition of excellence.

The center's staff has the expertise and the latest, cutting-edge technology to determine patients' cardiovascular needs and deliver highly-specialized care right here in the heart of Minden.

Cardiologist Dr. Phillip Rozeman is now seeing patients four days per week at the Heart and Vascular Center.  "As I have become more involved here, I have learned that there is an access problem for many people who do not want to make the drive from Minden to Shreveport," he said.

Patricia Pike is one of those patients who, after an unexpected diagnosis, wanted to stay in Minden for her heart care.  "I was having just a little uneasy feeling here in my neck," she explained.  "I asked for a stress test and got through that fine but Dr. Rozeman suggested I have my arteries and heart checked out.  He found an 80% blockage in my main artery."

The mere convenience of having Ms. Pike's procedure performed close to home might just be credited with saving her life.  "I live in Dubberly, so it was great," said Pike.  "It was just a short drive.  I've been very happy with Dr. Rozeman and his staff.  They have been able to attend to all my needs here."

"Here at the Heart and Vascular Center, were seeing people here who have never been seen before and they are getting the care they needed to have," said Dr. Rozeman.  "This is a state-of-the-art cardiac cath lab.  "We can do everything here, as far as the placement of stents, angioplasty, catheterization and pacemakers.  Everything short of heart surgery we can do in these facilities."

Cardiologist Dr. Wenwu Zhang brings his expertise to the vascular side of the Heart and Vascular Center.  "The name change brings an important component," said Dr. Zhang.  "Cardiology is not only the heart.  It is the heart and the vascular system.  Peripheral vascular disease is not highly recognized in this state.  Turns out, this area had a lot of need for the treatment of this disease."

With his training and skill, Dr. Zhang could practice just about anywhere, but he's happy to be at Minden Medical Center.  "I always thought I would work in a big place," he said, laughing.  "I have actually found that smaller is better.  We have one cath lab here.  I trained the staff and they are the only team I work with.  They do a fantastic job.  You can compare this center with anywhere in the state of Louisiana."

The growth at Minden Medical Center, including an upcoming $5 million intensive care unit, is critical to the health and well-being of those living in and around Minden.  "Behind the expansion is service to this community and the desire to not turn patients away because our present bed capacity is full," said CEO George E. French III.  "Our goal is to also communicate,  educate and enlighten our patients and their families...and I believe we deliver."

"Our new Heart and Vascular Center is indicative of our broader perspective, to provide more in-depth service in addition to primary care," continued French.