As one of the first facilities to provide open-heart surgery in the Santa Clara Valley, O'Connor has been a leader in the field since the 1970s.

During the past 30 years, O'Connor has made dramatic advances into the complementary fields of cardiology and electrophysiology, performing the highest volume of angioplasty procedures of any facility in the area and pioneering the use of radiofrequency ablation in the Valley. Angioplasty is a procedure in which a ballon-tipped catheter is inserted to expand constricted arteries. Radiofrequency ablation is a technique that uses pulses of energy to destroy malfunctioning heart cells. It can help cure irregular heartbeats known as atrial fibrillation.

O'Connor's exceptional cardiovascular physicians work closely with the Heart Center's well-trained nursing staff, many of whom are certified in critical care and board-certified emergency medicine physicians.

At O'Connor, your heart health is a top priority. We invite you to learn about the broad range of diagnostic, treatment and educational tools available at our Heart Center:

• Read about Heart Disease: #1 Cause of Death.
  
• Find out about our Diagnostic Cardiology technologies.
  
• Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories encompass today's leading edge expertise.
  
• New Procedure Reduces Complications and we've brought it to the Bay Area.
  
• Cardiovascular Surgery includes advanced technology and some of the area's best and brightest surgeons and cardiologists.
  
• Explore your options for outpatient treatment and understand How Minimally Invasive Surgery Is Different.
  
• Heart Surgery & Procedures FAQ addresses some of the more commonly asked questions.
  
• Rehabilitation & Support Services help you ease back into everyday activities.

Research & Education

O'Connor Hospital maintains an extensive database of information on more than 10,000 interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery patients to monitor outcomes and ensure quality care.

In addition, the hospital sponsors a speaker's bureau of O'Connor professionals who speak to various community organizations and offer classes on-site regarding the various aspects of cardiac care.

For more information about Heart Center research and education at O'Connor Hospital, please call (408) 947-2545.

Or call (408) 947-2514 to learn more about our LivingWell Education Series.