Accredited Chest Pain Center

As an Accredited Chest Pain Center, the doctors and nurses of Westlake know that every second counts when your heart is at risk. That’s why our Emergency Department uses a proven approach to rapidly identify and address the source of your chest pain, as well as potentially related symptoms such as shortness of breath, neck, arm and jaw discomfort or nausea. We also:

• Adhere to strict guidelines to ensure accurate, effective treatment 
• Work quickly, which can prevent long-term damage to your heart 
• Provide the expert care you’ve come to expect

If you or someone you love experiences chest pain, call 911 immediately.  And rest assured that if you come to Westlake, your heart will be in good hands.

Caring for Your Heart

Westlake Hospital offers outpatient and inpatient services for patients experiencing heart problems. Many services are available around the clock for patients who may need emergency medical care.

We offer a wide variety of Cardiac Services provided by highly skilled cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and staff. Our facilities feature state-of-the-art equipment for diagnosing and treating heart problems.

Our staff is dedicated to providing care when you need it and to understanding the needs of our patients. Most cardiac procedures can typically be scheduled within three business days.

To make an appointment, call 708-938-7110.

The Latest Technology Leads to Faster Treatment - 64-Slice CT Scan

At Westlake, we offer the latest advancement in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. The detailed three-dimensional imaging of the GE LightSpeed 64-Slice CT system allows for earlier detection with only a minimally invasive procedure.

And Westlake is among a select few Chicago-area hospitals to offer patients high quality coronary CT imaging with a significant reduction in the amount of radiation received.

How do our patients benefit from this?

• No hospitalization
• Shorter breath-holds
• Faster, more tolerable exams
• Minimally invasive with IV contrast
• Increased accuracy in the evaluation of coronary artery disease
• Accepted by most insurance plans with proper clinical diagnosis

Tests, Procedures, and Studies Offered

• Computerized Electrocardiograms (ECG) - A non-invasive test that records the electrical activity of the heart while the patient is lying down.
• Holter Monitoring (Ambulatory Electrocardiography) - A non-invasive test in which a patient wears a portable monitor that shows the electrical activity of the heart throughout the day and while resting at night.
• Treadmill Stress Test - A non-invasive test that records the electrical activity of the heart while the patient is exercising on a treadmill.

• Nuclear Scan Thallium Treadmill Stress Test - Similar to the treadmill stress test but with the addition of a special fluid injected into the bloodstream following exercise so that physicians can see the heart function.

• Echocardiography - A non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasonic waves to examine the heart and project images of it on a monitor. Transesophageal echocardiography and exercise echocardiography are also available.

• Cardiac Catheterization (Coronary Angiography) - An invasive test performed in order to look at the arteries that feed the heart. It involves the passage of a very long, narrow and hallow tube called a catheter to the heart or to the blood vessels that nourish the heart. To get the tube to the heart, it is passed throug a blood vessel in the arm or the groin. Balloon angioplasty and coronary stenting are also available.

• Pacemaker Implant Services - A comprehensive pacemaker implant program is offered with the most advanced monitoring equipment, which can even allow our patients to be checked via telephone from across the country.

• Cardiac Surgery – Our cardiologists perform many types of heart surgery, including coronary bypass, valve replacement, and pacemaker implant.

• Electrophysiology Studies - For irregular heartbeats, our doctors conduct electrophysiology studies to detect irregularities and to determine if a patient is a candidate for a pacemaker.

Cardiac Catheterization Lab

Our cardiac catheterization lab features fully digital angiography. Our doctors are provided with a real-time image that shows them greater detail, a much larger field of view, and less distortion as they guide catheters and other medical devices through blood vessels to your heart.

This enables your health care provider to more accurately diagnose and treat patients’ heart problems.