Beat Goes On

Sixty to 100 beats per minute. That’s the normal resting heart rate for adults. However, one in 18 people will experience an irregular heartbeat during their lifetime. In an effort to provide specialized care to people with heart rhythm disorders, Baptist Health has opened its Heart Rhythm Center, a $17-million, 14,000-squarefoot facility dedicated to the condition.

“It’s truly a one-stop shop,” says Matthew McKillop, MD, a Baptist cardiac electrophysiologist and medical director of the electrophysiology program. “We have the latest and greatest technology, highly trained physicians and staff—all in an environment designed to help patients feel relaxed and comfortable.” The center contains three hybrid operating rooms equipped with imaging and surgical technology for procedures including ablation and device implantation (pacemakers, defibrillators, etc.), as well as ten patient rooms and a family lounge.

Atrial fibrillation, often called Afib, is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder. It occurs when the upper and lower chambers of the heart are not coordinated, causing the heart to beat too slowly or irregularly. Other common heart rhythm disorders include tachycardia (heart beating too quickly), bradycardia (too slowly), and ventricular fibrillation (causes the heart to stop beating). “If you have any signs of a heart rhythm disorder, it’s important to seek treatment right away,” says Dr. McKillop. “If left untreated, these conditions can cause hospitalization or death.” u