St. Luke’s Medical Center, the first hospital in Arizona to offer a same-day coronary angioplasty through the radial artery in the wrist, is reporting significantly improved outcomes and cost savings for patients and the health system using the new artery access point. As a result, the less-invasive procedure is attracting national attention. According to a national study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, radial access could save hospitals across the U.S. more than $300 million each year due to the ability it gives hospitals and patients to have same-day surgical procedures. The radial approach also reduces complications by 80 percent compared to the standard femoral approach, according to Richard Heuser, M.D., Chief of Cardiology at St. Luke’s Medical Center.
“St. Luke’s Medical Center has one of the most unique catheterization labs in the state, which has allowed us to get ahead of the curve in offering a better patient experience with better patient outcomes,” says Dr. Heuser, a trailblazer in cardiology. “As a result, both patients and the healthcare system are enjoying significant cost savings. Since we began offering the procedure in 2010, the hospital has seen upwards of $750,000 in annual health care savings.”
