March 16, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Cardiology has moved to a new and much larger home on the ninth floor of the new UAB Women & Infants Center at the corner of 6th Avenue and 18th Street South.

The division provides medical expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in a wide variety of ages, from fetus to adults with congenital heart disease. The division's new suite also is home to the noninvasive diagnostic unit for the noted Alabama Congenital Heart Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center.

"This suite was designed to be patient-centric," said Associate Division Director Yung Lau, M.D. "We have been able to expand our commitment to perform all the common noninvasive cardiology tests in one place and to make a patient's visit as comprehensive and efficient as possible.

"Before this move, we were able to perform electrograms, chest X-rays, and echocardiograms in the same suite," Lau said. "However, we were limited by the number of exam rooms and our wait times for a routine appointment were too long. By tripling the number of exam rooms and providing dedicated rooms for exercise testing, device followup, and ambulatory monitoring, we will be able to see nonurgent new patients within two weeks or less."

In addition, the expanded space has allowed for consolidation of services, which enhances patient convenience. The UAB Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery now will see patients with congenital heart disease in the same suite. This will facilitate real-time collaboration by surgeon and cardiologist in the management of patients with complex congenital heart disease.

About UAB Heart and Vascular Services

UAB's nationally ranked heart program provides the full spectrum of cardiovascular services and performs the most advanced cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, and thoracic surgery procedures available. UAB Heart and Vascular Services provides care for pediatric and adult congenital cardiovascular services and adult congenital heart through the UAB Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, and UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease.  Adults cardiovascular services are provided through the UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease and Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and the Section of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy.