A cath lab right here in Palatka
FCCI opened its second freestanding outpatient cath lab in Palatka in 2016. Many heart and leg artery procedures can be done there without a hospital stay, in a comfortable setting close to home.
What is a catheterization?
A catheterization lets your doctor see the inside of your arteries. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter goes into an artery in your wrist or groin. Special X-ray equipment shows its path. This lets the doctor check your heart, legs, kidneys and other arteries for blockages, and in many cases treat them during the same procedure.
FCCI was the first in the region to offer catheterization in an outpatient setting. Its first lab opened in Jacksonville in 2007. The success of that lab led to the Palatka lab in 2016. Both are accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. Doing these procedures outside the hospital can lower out-of-pocket costs and is often more convenient.
Cath procedures in Putnam County happen at the same address as regular visits: 205 Zeagler Drive, Suite 101, Palatka. If your doctor has recommended a catheterization, call 386.325.2836 on a weekday and the front desk will walk you through scheduling and prep.
Procedures FCCI offers in its cath labs
- Diagnostic heart cath: looks at the heart's arteries to find and treat coronary artery disease
- Carotid angiography: looks at the neck and head arteries to help prevent and treat stroke
- Peripheral angiography: looks at the arteries in the legs and arms for peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Peripheral revascularization: opens blocked leg arteries with balloons, stents or atherectomy devices
- Hemodialysis access management: keeps dialysis grafts and fistulas open
- Venous filter insertion for people at risk of clots traveling to the lungs
- PICC line insertion for long-term IV treatment
- Shockwave lithotripsy for hard, calcified leg artery blockages
Ask your FCCI provider which of these are done at the Palatka lab for your situation. Call 386.325.2836.
These procedures are a core part of FCCI's work. The practice has been treating Northeast Florida patients since 2002, now counts over 30 providers, and its Palatka lab has carried AAAHC accreditation since opening in 2016.
What to expect on procedure day
Before: If your procedure starts before noon, do not eat or drink anything after midnight. If it starts in the afternoon, a light breakfast is allowed. You can usually take your daily medicines with sips of water. If you have diabetes, follow the special instructions your care team gives you.
During: Most procedures take 1 to 3 hours and need only a tiny opening in the wrist or groin. Start times are estimates, because some cases before yours may take longer.
After: You will recover in a private room for 1 to 5 hours, depending on what was done. Plan for someone to drive you home. Follow-up tests may be needed.
Most cath patients go home the same day. If your care does require a hospital stay at HCA Florida Putnam Hospital, FCCI physicians are there around the clock, so your heart team stays the same.
Why outpatient matters for Putnam County
For many families in Palatka, East Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen and San Mateo, a trip to a big hospital in Jacksonville means a long day and a long drive. Having an accredited outpatient lab in Palatka keeps more care close to home. FCCI is proud of its history of preventing amputations, and its leg artery work is a big part of what happens in its cath labs.
Wondering whether your procedure can be done in Palatka? Call 386.325.2836 on a weekday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. You can also request a visit online, but keep medical details out of the form and share them by phone.
The lab sits inside the Palatka office at 205 Zeagler Drive, Suite 101, an easy trip from East Palatka, San Mateo, Crescent City and Interlachen. Bring your driver along, since you will need a ride home afterward.
Talk with a specialist.
New patients are welcome. Call 386.325.2836, Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm, or request a visit online.
How long will I be at the cath lab?
Procedures last about 1 to 3 hours, and recovery is about 1 to 5 hours. Plan for most of the day and bring a driver.
Is the Palatka cath lab accredited?
Yes. FCCI's Jacksonville and Palatka labs are both accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.
Can I eat before my procedure?
If it starts before noon, nothing to eat or drink after midnight. If it starts in the afternoon, a light breakfast is allowed. Follow the exact instructions your team gives you.
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