At Kaiser Permanente, we have the expertise to quickly diagnose and treat any cardiac issue so you can enjoy a full and active life. We have a wide range of Permanente cardiologists, surgeons, and other specialists who work together as an integrated team to treat the most complex heart conditions using the safest and least invasive processes possible. Our doctors and care teams use advanced methods available to detect and treat your condition while following a treatment plan designed specifically to get you the care you need.
World-Class Cardiac Care in San Diego
Edward Is a cardiac disease survivor
Edward Dillard (Age 67) was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis and required an aortic valve replacement surgery after his heart function declined to 20-25%. He underwent this procedure and was referred to Kaiser Permanente’s Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation program for recovery. After completing the 7-week rehabilitation program, Edward’s heart function had improved back to normal range. In addition, Edward lost 20 pounds during this time by adopting healthier eating habits and more movement into his lifestyle.
Better detection
Screening early is key to catching cardiac diseases at a state where treatments are less invasive and cure rates are higher. Our coordinated system allows us to provide rapid access if you need cardiac testing. If your primary care physician believes you need specific tests, the doctor can send you to a cardiologist’s office for a stress test, echocardiogram, or face-to-face consultation immediately or when the time is best for you. One of the many state-of-the-art detections tools we offer is the cardiac CT or CAT scan. We monitor chronic conditions such as aneurysms and valvular heart disease through a series of unified treatment guidelines our cardiologists have developed. These guidelines are evidence-driven and allow us to provide the treatment best suited to you.
Cutting-edge advanced treatments
Our innovative multidisciplinary programs for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have dramatically reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits, keeping our patients healthy, and out of the hospital. Kaiser Permanente in San Diego works hand in hand with pharmacists specializing in the management of mediations used to treat congestive heart failure. We also have several other advanced heart failure management programs including utilizing specialized pacemakers with a program called Heartlogic that has been scientifically proven to improve patient outcomes as well as the CardioMEMS device.
Our robust Interventional program provides minimally invasive catheter-based management of various structural heart diseases. For example, the transcatheter aortic valve replacement program allows patients to undergo small incisions in the groin and one night in the hospital, followed by less than one week of total recovery. We also offer several other advanced therapies for the minimally invasive treatment of valvular heart disease including the Mitraclip and we are a leading participant in several ongoing tricuspid clip studies.
They also offer advanced treatment strategies for coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure such as right heart catheterizations, left heart catheterizations, coronary angiograms, rotoblator atherectomy, coronary laser atherectomy, coronary brachytherapy. We also offer advanced mechanical circulatory support with devices like the IMPELLA, intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation, and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation).
Our comprehensive device clinic (electrophysiology department) has cardiologists who implant lead-less pacemakers, defibrillators or ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators), and other advanced devices and perform complex extractions, such as removing an infected pacemaker without doing heart surgery. For patients who cannot take blood thinners, left atrial appendage closure devices, a new way to prevent strokes in atrial fibrillation patients, can be implanted without opening the chest.
A 360 approach to heart health
Through our coordinated delivery system, our cardiologists work closely with a range of Permanente specialists, including surgeons, radiologists, and geneticists, to manage extraordinarily complex conditions for patients with congenital heart disease, including the treatment of genetic cardiomyopathies (diseases of the heart muscle) and genetic conditions with cardiac manifestations. An adult congenital heart disease specialist consults with and follows our patients over prolonged periods to treat both simple and complex congenital heart disease and rare and unusual conditions. Our Permanente pediatric cardiologists provide exceptional care to our young patients with cardiac conditions.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs
Cardiac rehabilitation programs save lives and are essential to improve your health. Our cardiologists have created a unique rehabilitation program that uses virtual communications and a home-based exercise program to improve your experience and make it easier for you to complete the program. Our virtual cardiac rehabilitation program is available if you have had bypass surgery, a heart attack, other heart surgery, or medically managed chest pain. The program will be tailored specifically for you. The Kaiser Permanente Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation program was launched in San Diego in 2018 and has expanded to 13 Kaiser Permanente sites in Southern California. To date, more than 11,000 Kaiser Permanente members have successfully completed the program.
Evidence based Treatment
Our cardiologists and heart surgeons use evidence-based treatment and innovative technology to care for a high volume of patients. That means they have experience treating a broad range of heart conditions and performing life-saving procedures. And our connected system allows them to share knowledge across locations and specialties. So, our doctors continuously learn new and better ways to practice medicine, and members can benefit from the skill and expertise of all our heart specialists.
Advancing care through research
Ongoing participation in several clinical trials that advance the field of cardiology.
What’s more?
1,340 journal articles
88,000 citations in other articles
500 practice guideline references
380 clinical decision aid references
What’s more?
1,340 journal articles
88,000 citations in other articles
500 practice guideline references
380 clinical decision aid references