NEW ORLEANS �“ On Jan. 7, 2009, the Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute joined with cardiologists at St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, La to offer local residents specialized, diagnostic procedures closer to home. Ochsner interventional cardiologists Drs. Stephen Ramee and Mark Grise will work alongside St. Charles cardiologist Dr. C. Jayakrishnan to offer expanded diagnostic services to local residents.

“Ochsner and St. Charles Parish Hospital chose to partner after recognizing a need within the local community to expand beyond primary cardiology care and offer diagnostic cardiac services closer to home,” says Dr. Patrick Quinlan, Chief Executive Officer for Ochsner Health System.

“Ochsner’s commitment to care for our communities means bringing initial or expanded medical services into local neighborhoods when there is a need,” he said. Ochsner’s medical staff will complement the cardiac, surgical, renal and imaging services already provided by St. Charles physicians. Ochsner will be able to perform angiography and limited peripheral intervention at St. Charles Parish Hospital and will be available for consultations in the clinic on site.

Ochsner’s physicians will be available to see patients with the following medical conditions: peripheral vascular disease, including angiography; invasive and interventional cardiology, including coronary angiography; renovascular disease and renovascular hypertension; TIA, stroke; dialysis access failure; and structural heart disease, including aortic, pulmonic and mitral valve disease.

According to Dr. Stephen Ramee, Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute Head of Interventional Cardiology and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Louisiana residents are known for their increased cardiac health risks, “Our diets, lifestyles, and genetics all attribute to an increased risk for cardiac blockages and other vascular problems. By combining general and specialized cardiology we can better diagnose and treat St. Charles residents; our goal is to help save lives and return patients to the care of their community physicians.”

St. Charles Parish Hospital provides non-invasive diagnostic testing for cardiovascular diseases and the only nationally certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in the River Parishes region. “We are pleased to be able to offer additional cardiology services to our community with the help of Ochsner’s cardiology team, who have a longstanding reputation of excellence,” says Fred Martinez, CEO of St. Charles Parish Hospital.

Ramee goes on to explain that by bringing specialized cardiac care to St. Charles’ doorstep, residents may be more inclined to “take that additional step that could save their life.” “Patients want to receive healthcare in their neighborhood, and that’s why my colleagues and I travel from New Orleans to Ochsner St. Anne in Raceland, the North Shore, and now to St. Charles Parish,” says Ramee.