Advanced Cardiovascular and Hypertension Care at AHN Saint Vincent
AHN Cardiovascular Institute at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital proudly serves heart patients across Erie with team-based care and the region’s only advanced hypertension clinic.
Leading the region in cardio care
Our advanced hypertension clinic combines the expertise of general and interventional cardiologists, nephrologists, and endocrinologists to deliver coordinated, multidisciplinary care — all close to home.
The clinic offers access to leading-edge therapies, including the Paradise® Ultrasound Renal Denervation (RDN) system — the only one in Erie. This technology uses the power of ultrasound energy to disrupt the overactive sympathetic nerves around the renal arteries, helping control resistant hypertension.
While the clinic is designed to help patients better manage their hypertension, AHN specialists also work together to identify other underlying or compounding cardiovascular conditions and determine the best course of treatment for each health concern.
Timely care
Early intervention is critical to improving outcomes in cardiovascular care. According to Orestis Pappas, MD, interventional cardiologist and director of the structural heart team and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Saint Vincent, both patients and providers should act quickly when symptoms arise, or test results are abnormal.
“The sooner we see a patient, the sooner we can begin effective treatments,” said Dr. Pappas. “Our team reviews patient cases regularly, and we aim to provide answers or a personalized treatment plan for each patient within a week in most cases.”
With 12 cardiovascular providers at Saint Vincent, patients can be seen — and treated — without significant delay.
Collaborative care
AHN’s multidisciplinary cardiovascular team at Saint Vincent — also called our “heart team” — consists of:
- Interventional cardiologists
- General cardiologists
- Cardiothoracic surgeons
- Vascular surgeons
- Cardiac electrophysiologists
This team-based model streamlines the patient experience by eliminating unnecessary appointments and providing comprehensive expertise in one coordinated setting. Following evaluation, referrals to subspecialists are made only as needed.
From diagnosis through treatment, AHN supports patients through the entire care journey — reducing administrative burden for referring physicians and improving continuity for patients.
“It’s about giving people access to quality care in their own community, without the hassle,” said Dr. Pappas. “Our goal is to simplify the process and build trust through collaboration.”
How to refer
To refer a patient in Erie for advanced cardiovascular care, call 814-453-7767.
Our team at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital offers expert treatment, rapid access, and a collaborative model that makes it easier to care for patients with complex heart needs.
About Orestis Pappas, MD
Dr. Pappas is an interventional cardiologist who treats patients with heart disease who require interventional or portal vein procedures (including TAVR) and non-invasive cardiac testing. He is skilled in performing coronary and peripheral angiograms, peripheral interventions, pulmonary angiograms and pulmonary balloon angioplasty, brachytherapy, catheter-directed thrombectomy and thrombolysis.
At Saint Vincent, we’ve assembled the most experienced, trusted team of cardiologists and cardiac experts in the region. We perform more heart procedures and deliver better outcomes than other cardiovascular hospitals in our area. Our nationally recognized team continues to pioneer innovative screening techniques and less invasive heart procedures, resulting in shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times, and better outcomes for patients. Saint Vincent continues to rank among the best in the state for patient quality, making a successful recovery significantly more likely than at other hospitals in the region.