Advancing Children’s Hospital Cardiology Care At The Willson Heart Center
Pediatric heart care has been a Valley Children’s priority for more than 60 years. Our specialists established the cardiovascular program by pioneering new treatments with cutting-edge technology. Our cardiology program remains at the forefront of bringing improved techniques and advanced heart and vascular care to Central California. We have the expertise in both routine and very complex care, caring for patients across a comprehensive range of heart conditions and diseases across areas of cardiology, including congenital heart defects.
Children's Cardiology Care Access for Routine and Urgent Heart Conditions
Easy access to expert cardiac care is available both within Valley Children’s Hospital and on an outpatient basis. For urgent needs, our team is always available with emergency cardiac services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For routine appointments or follow-up care, our specialists come to your communities by offering appointments at regional practices. With about a third of our patients under 4 years of age, every effort is made to treat children in the most convenient environment to help reduce the family’s stress and discomfort.
The Willson Heart Center Outpatient Practice at Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, and our outreach centers in Modesto, Merced, Visalia, Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo, provide assessment and follow-up care for more than 9,000 outpatients each year with known or suspected cardiac, cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular disease. In addition, our pediatric cardiology specialists at the Electrophysiology Clinic provides assessment and follow-up care for outpatients with known or suspected cardiac conduction abnormalities.
Interventional Cardiologists Offer Minimally Invasive Techniques
Valley Children’s pediatric interventional cardiologists diagnose and repair young hearts using less invasive and minimal bloodloss surgery techniques, such as closing a hole in the top or bottom of the heart or replacing a heart valve. Cardiac catheterization procedures often prevent the need for traditional, open cardiac surgery, usually resulting in:
- Shorter Hospital Stays
- Quicker Recovery Time
- Decreased Risk of Blood Loss
- Less Discomfort
- Less Scarring
Echocardiogram Expertise for Central California
With about 11,000 echocardiographic studies a year, our specialists perform transthoracic, transesophageal, fetal and intracardiac echocardiograms. Through use of our computerized echocardiography system, echocardiography is available in the practice’s rooms. Additional cardiac testing capabilities are provided through the Cardiac Testing Center. In addition, our diagnostic specialists provide interpretation of echocardiograms for hospitals throughout Central California via telemedicine capabilities.