ITHACA, N.Y. — Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca has completed what it calls a “major renovation” of its cardiac catheterization lab, replacing previous generation equipment with a new GE Allia IGS 7 system. The six-month renovation “marks a significant investment in patient care and safety, delivering faster, clearer imaging with lower radiation exposure and greater […]
ITHACA, N.Y. — Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca has completed what it calls a “major renovation” of its cardiac catheterization lab, replacing previous generation equipment with a new GE Allia IGS 7 system.
The six-month renovation “marks a significant investment in patient care and safety, delivering faster, clearer imaging with lower radiation exposure and greater efficiency for lifesaving cardiac and interventional radiology (IR) procedures,” the hospital contended in its June 19 announcement.
The new GE Allia system offers high-definition imaging that enables providers to clearly see the heart and blood vessels to identify blockages or narrowing, which is “critical” for fast, accurate diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks and other conditions.
The advanced system reduces radiation exposure for both patients and staff and incorporates robotic-assisted positioning and laser guidance to streamline procedures and support workflow efficiency.
“We are incredibly excited about the capabilities this new technology brings to our community,” Carrie Westlake, system director of cardiopulmonary and sleep services at Cayuga Medical Center, said in the announcement. “Time is muscle when it comes to a heart attack. These improvements not only help us deliver faster interventions but also ensure our team can work more efficiently and safely. This is a major step forward in our ability to provide excellent cardiac and interventional care right here in Ithaca.”
The renovation also included changes to the cath lab layout, “improving accessibility, procedural awareness, and patient flow.” With two fully functional procedure rooms now online, the likelihood of service interruptions like temporary STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) diversions is “significantly reduced.” This ensures “more reliable access to critical care” during emergencies.
Cayuga Medical Center’s catheterization lab also holds accreditation as both a Chest Pain Center and a Catheterization Lab from the American College of Cardiology, “reflecting its commitment to the highest standards in heart care,” per the announcement.
Cayuga Medical Center is part of Centralus Health, an affiliation of Cayuga Health and Arnot Health systems in Ithaca and Elmira, respectively.
