Lee Health Heart Institute

At Lee Health, you have everything you need to take care of your heart health. Our expert cardiovascular team is the largest and most experienced in Southwest Florida. No matter where you are in your health care journey, our experts are alongside you every step of the way. Lee Health Heart Institute includes primary and specialty care, nationally ranked hospitals, Shipley Cardiothoracic Center, advanced cardiac imaging, cutting edge catheterization techniques, state of the art management of heart arrhythmias, cardiac rehabilitation and more—all in a safe and comforting environment. We’re ready to help you stay active, engaged and prepared to enjoy the important things in life.

• Shipley Cardiothoracic Center: helping to shape the future of heart and lung surgery by spearheading cutting-edge research, advancing new surgical techniques, and providing outstanding training to surgical teams worldwide. Our group has a long-standing reputation of excellence as a minimally-invasive surgical center. Beginning with valve surgery more than 10 years ago, our program has expanded to include robotic heart surgery, transcatheter valve repair and replacement and hybrid surgery for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.  
• Heart and Vascular Institute: “HVI” is a partnership between cardiologists and cardiac surgeons and the Lee Health System. Its purpose is to actively engage in improvements in quality of care and the development of new cutting-edge programs to enhance options available to patients. Multiple groups and committees constantly monitor data, comparing ourselves with national (and international) standards toward the goal of “being the best”.

An alliance with Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, the nation’s leader in heart care. Lee Health is raising our level of heart care even higher – while earning the reputation as the region’s most trusted cardiovascular team. Your team.

HealthPark Medical Center has been recognized as a PINC AI™ I Fortune 50 Top Cardiology Hospital™ in the country - and 1 of only 4 hospitals recognized in the state of Florida. Lee Health has a strategic alliance with Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, which has been ranked No. 1 for cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report since 1995. Cleveland Clinic, one of the most trusted names in healthcare in the U.S., elevates medical care in Southwest Florida by opening up possibilities for future collaboration, programs and activities that will enhance the exceptional service Lee Health already provides to our patients.

At each stage of their training, these specialists must pass rigorous exams that test their knowledge and judgment, as well as their ability to provide superior care.

Cardiologists, pediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons must first become board-certified in their primary specialty (internal medicine, pediatrics and surgery respectively), and then certified in their subspecialty (cardiology, pediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery respectively). Many of our cardiologists have gone on to receive board certification in sub-specialties, such as electrophysiology, imaging and intervention.

Cardiac surgeons perform many operations at Healthpark at Lee Health, including Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), Heart rhythm surgery, Valve Replacement and repairs, Aortic Aneurysm Repair, and Lung Surgery. If your Primary Doctor or Cardiologist feels that surgery may be “the best treatment” or “may be an option” for your heart condition, then you will be referred to a cardiac surgeon for further evaluation. The surgeon will review your medical records, tests, discuss your condition with you and your doctors, and provide further advice about the risk and benefits of possible surgery.

If your cardiology specialist adds F.A.C.C. — Fellow of the American College of Cardiology — to his or her name, it is a sign of significant accomplishment and commitment to a profession, a specialty, and to the provision of the best health care for the patient. Election to ACC membership is based on training, specialty board certification, scientific and professional accomplishments, length of active participation in a cardiovascular-related field, and peer recognition.

Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. To become a member of the Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) the doctor’s education, training, competence, and ethical conduct has to have passed an intensive assessment consistent with the standards of the College of Surgeons.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons generally perform surgery of the heart and chest. Cardiologists work with surgeons to manage patients and determine whether the patient needs surgery. They might also work together to treat irregular heart beat problems.

Electrophysiology and interventional cardiology are one of many cardiac specialties. An electrophysiologist will diagnose and treat irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. An interventional cardiologist have additional training that allow them to perform "interventions," meaning they can insert stents, perform angioplasty and other similar procedures.

Yes, you do need a referral for a cardiothoracic surgeon or cardiology specialist.  You cannot make an appointment through MyChart, please call the physicians office to make an appointment. Once you have had your initial appointment, you can make follow up appointments through MyChart.

Any time you have a significant heart or related condition, you may require the attention of a cardiologist. Their skills and training are required for decisions about heart catheterization, balloon angioplasty/stents, pacemaker devices, heart surgery, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, chest pain, intractable hypertension and other conditions that don’t require “intervention” but the attention of cardiologist.

Your cardiologist will review your medical history and perform a physical examination, which will include checking your blood pressure, weight, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. While some problems may be diagnosed from this examination, your cardiologist may order an EKG, x-ray or blood tests. In addition, an ambulatory EKG, echocardiogram, exercise test, cardiac CT scan, heart catheterization, and/or nuclear imaging may be required.

Lee Health offers patients a secure, online way to access medical records. Patients can log into MyChart to access results. You also have the ability to go to any hospital and obtain a paper copy of your medical records at the release of medical information desk.  

This is by doctor preference and can depend on which insurance plan you have. Contact the facility and we can answer more questions you may have.