Many tertiary hospitals in Metro Manila as well as in other major Philippine cities are now capable of doing diagnostic cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass surgery. The outcomes of the current aggressiveness of approach in heart disease is evident in number of lives saved as well as improvement in quality life.

Capitol Medical Center with the aim of offering its patient population the best and most up-to-date care in heart disease and in keeping up with trends in Cardiology, embarked more than a year ago, on a program to develop a state of-the-art cardiovascular service which, by the time this article is printed, will be already fully operational. Foremost is the establishment of a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab it is commonly called). CMC acquired a modern Philips Allura FD 20 and placed it in the second floor beside the Non Invasive Cardiology Laboratory ( formerly called the Heart Station ). The Cath Lab has a complete set of accessory equipment and devices necessary in the delivery of top caliber cardiac, coronary and peripheral vascular procedures. It has two-bed Patient Holding Area that can serve as a short-stay Intensive Care / Telemetry unit for uncomplicated post PCI cases. For complicated cases or for patients requiring immediate surgery, transfer to the third floor Cardiovascular Operating Suite is facilitated by a short and direct elevator ride. Well trained and experienced Interventional Cardiologists and Radiologists work hand in hand with a trained and very able set of Nurse Technologists and Radiology Technologists. It is manned 24 hours daily 7 days a week ready to accept the challenge of emergency procedures anytime they are needed.

The institution now offers various Cardiovascular and peripheral Vascular procedures with very reasonable and competitive price packages that will be highly attractive to its clientele. These procedures are :

1. Coronary Angiography
2. Hemodynamic Studies
3. Peripheral Angiographies
4. Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
5. Percutaneous Valve Interventions
6. Percutaneous Peripheral Vascular Interventions
7. Fluoroscopically guided Transvenous pacemaker insertion
8. Vena Cava Filter Insertion
9. Other Fluoroscopically guided procedures

With the completion of its cardiovascular service, the Hospital will also realize its goal of establishing a training program in Adult Cardiology and eventually Cardiovascular Surgery. This high value project of our beloved Dr. Thelma Navarrete-Clemente, in parallel to the institution's mission and vision statement, brings Capitol Medical Center to a level at par with all other tertiary institutions in the country.