Comprehensive Care

• Region’s only center fully dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of chest pain
• Immediate access to state-of-the-art diagnostic technology
• Unmatched treatment by a nationally accredited, multidisciplinary team of physicians supported by a large, well-trained staff
• Ability to accurately assess heart problems in the critical early stages of acute coronary events and to rapidly begin coordinated treatments

State-of-the-art Technology

• Dual Source cardiac CT for unparalleled cardiac imaging
• Two CT-SPECT cameras provide precise nuclear imaging to evaluate chest pain
• Cardiac MR
• Ultrasound echocardiography

Clinical Research

• Unique collaborative clinical research program involving Cardiology, Radiology and Emergency Medicine
• Led by Joseph P. Schoepf, M.D., an internationally recognized expert in the field of advanced cardiac imaging
• Working with the Division of Cardiology, Dr. Schoepf has conducted extensive, ground-breaking research and authored several major textbooks

Quality Outcomes

• MUSC’s door-to-balloon time has been heralded as a national model — current mean time is approximately 70 minutes
• MUSC’s Q3 2007 average door-to-balloon time was less than 90 minutes for 100 percent of patients, besting the national standard of 75 percent

Access and Admission

• Located on first floor of the Ashley River Tower, 25 Courtney Drive
• Patients may drive up and walk directly into the center
• Patients are admitted as outpatients for diagnosis, treatment and observation
• Each patient is met at the door by a highly qualified clinician who immediately assesses the complaint
• The patient is then evaluated by a physician and undergoes immediate testing, including an electrocardiogram and a blood test to assess whether a heart attack is underway
• If a heart attack is identified, the patient may be taken to the cardiac catheterization laboratory for a cardiac catheterization (angiogram) and possible procedures to open the blocked artery
• When chest pain is not clearly due to a heart attack, the team’s advanced training and cutting-edge technology, such as the dual source CT scanner, allow for quick assessment of the cause of the patients symptoms
• If hospitalization is required for further treatment, patients are transferred upstairs to the MUSC Heart and Vascular Center
• Referring physicians can expect the highest quality service and the widest range of treatments possible for the full spectrum of cardiac and vascular conditions