Expanding Access to Advanced Heart Care at AHN Forbes Hospital

Through continued investment, physician expertise, and multidisciplinary collaboration, AHN Cardiovascular Institute at AHN Forbes Hospital offers expanded capabilities to deliver leading-edge cardiac care for patients in eastern Pittsburgh — whether they require urgent intervention or proactive evaluation for complex heart disease.

Specialized cardiac care closer to home

Robust upgrades at Forbes, including a second state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratory, have supported the area’s growing volume of cardiac patients and reinforced the hospital as a regional destination for high-acuity heart care.

Modernized cath labs at Forbes integrate advanced technologies such as intravascular ultrasound, hemodynamic assessment, and coronary imaging into a single system. The labs also feature a dedicated anesthesia workspace — a capability not typically found in traditional cath lab environments. Together, these enhancements enable many complex interventions to be performed directly within the cath labs, including:

• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Left atrial appendage closure with WATCHMAN™
• Carotid artery stenting
• Pulmonary thrombectomy
• Drug-coated balloon angioplasty
• Advanced mechanical circulatory support

"These labs were built with the future in mind, so we're prepared to deliver the next generation of interventional procedures as they continue to evolve," said Aashish Dua, MD, medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Forbes. "The technology will allow us to perform increasingly sophisticated procedures more efficiently, while giving patients access to advanced care within their own community.”

Team-based care improves outcomes

The interventional cardiology program at Forbes brings together specialists from multiple disciplines and across AHN facilities to make timely treatment decisions for some of the region's highest-risk cardiovascular patients.

Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT)

Interventional cardiologists work together with intensivists and hospitalists, along with cardiothoracic surgeons and emergency physicians as needed, to rapidly evaluate and treat patients with acute pulmonary embolism through advanced therapies, such as catheter-based thrombectomy, when appropriate.

Shock Team

Interventional cardiologists collaborate with intensivists, cardiac surgeons, perfusionists, and critical care specialists to evaluate patients experiencing cardiogenic shock and deliver advanced therapies such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Whenever possible, patients are stabilized at Forbes before transfer to AHN Allegheny General Hospital if highly specialized interventions, such as transplant evaluation or ventricular assist device placement, are required.

"Minutes matter in cardiovascular care, and being able to intervene quickly can save lives,” said Dr. Dua. "Our goal is to start treatment immediately for extremely complex patients while knowing additional expertise from across AHN’s network is available when needed."

Save lives through early referral

Emergency care is only one part of the program. It is critical to identify patients early in the course of cardiovascular disease, when timely intervention can improve quality of life and help prevent future complications.

Dr. Dua encourages referring providers to consider advanced cardiovascular evaluation at Forbes for patients with:

• Symptomatic aortic stenosis or significant valvular heart disease.
• Recurrent heart failure hospitalizations or progressive heart failure symptoms.
• Atrial fibrillation and bleeding risks associated with long-term anticoagulation.
• Persistent angina or suspected complex coronary artery disease despite medical therapy.
• Symptoms or imaging findings that warrant further assessment, especially for those at high risk.

The interventional cardiology team works closely with referring providers to facilitate timely consultations and maintain open communication throughout treatment.

"Even if a patient ultimately doesn't need a procedure, we're here to support referring providers," said Dr. Dua. "The earlier we're able to evaluate these patients, the more opportunities we have to guide treatment, improve outcomes, and return them to their primary provider with a clear plan."

How to refer

To learn more or refer a patient to AHN Cardiovascular Institute at AHN Forbes Hospital, call 1-844-MD-REFER 844-637-3337 or visit Health Care Professionals at Allegheny Health Network.