Office Services

A full range of outpatient cardiology services are available at our offices.  These services include:

• Coronary and Peripheral Cardiac Catheterization and Interventions ARTICLE
   

• ECP Treatment (We are the only office between Allentown and Philadelphia providing external counterpulsation treatment) ARTICLE
   

• Nuclear cardiology: All nuclear stress testing can be performed with or without exercise. Your primary care or referring physician will determine whether or not you should walk on the treadmill.

  • Persantine Stress Tests ARTICLE

  • Myoview Stress Tests ARTICLE

  • Lexiscan Stress Tests ARTICLE
     

• Stress Echocardiograms ARTICLE
   

• Exercise Stress Testing ARTICLE

• Echocardiography ARTICLE
   

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) ARTICLE
   

• Cardiac Catheterization ARTICLE
   

• Carotid Ultrasonography ARTICLE
   

• Peripheral Vascular Evaluation and Intervention

  Peripheral Angiography - Mapping Blood Flow Through Your Lower Body. Peripheral Angiography is an out-patient procedure that helps find blood vessel problems in your lower body and legs. Because arteries do not show up on ordinary x-rays, arteriograms utilize a "contrast agent" containing iodine, which is injected into the arteries to make them visible on radiographs. It makes a "map" of the vessels (arteries) that carry blood through your body. This map can show where blood flow may be blocked. Blockages can cause painful leg cramps while walking. They can also keep foot wounds from healing. Problems with the arteries may lead to a variety of complications such as stroke, high blood pressure or leg pain.

  The type of treatment your particular condition may require will be determined by your angiogram. Once the doctor knows the cause of your symptoms, he or she can find the best treatment for you.

  The angiogram is done under local anesthesia while you are awake. Medication will be given to make you drowsy before the procedure. You will have an intravenous infusion (I.V.) started to be sure you get enough fluid and to provide a way to give you any sedation or medication required for your comfort during the procedure. The procedure can take anywhere from one to three hours. You will be required to have some blood testing prior to your admission. Be sure to mention to your doctor all medications you may be taking, especially if you are taking insulin or blood thinners (such as coumadin). Also discuss any allergies to foods or medications.

  A tiny skin incision is made near an artery in your groin. This is the insertion site. You doctor inserts a catheter (thin tube) through the site. He then slides the catheter into an artery while viewing a video monitor. Contrast "dye" is injected into the catheter. You may feel warmth or pressure in your legs and back. You lie still as x-rays are taken. The catheter is then removed. Pressure is applied to the site by hand or with a special belt. Afterward, you'll be taken to a recovery area. A doctor or nurse will keep applying pressure to the site for about 10 minutes. You will need to keep your leg still and straight for a few hours. Your doctor will discuss the results with you soon after the procedure.
   

• Pacemaker and AICD Evaluation

  We provide in-office evaluation and interrogation of your pacemaker for your convenience. After implant, pacemakers require periodic interrogations in the office in addition to monthly or bi-monthly telephone checks.

  The pacemaker evaluation is performed in the office with our pacemaker technician, and a highly trained representative from your pacemaker manufacturer. They will interrogate your device using a computer "wand" which will be placed over your pacemaker (on the skin). This will allow communication between your device and our external computer. It gives us information such as battery usage and remaining battery life, and how often your pacemaker is used or not used. It also tells us if the leads are still in the proper position and if the lead wires are intact. It allows us to set the power level to the lowest necessary to properly function, thusly saving battery life.

  These interrogations are usually done yearly for single chamber devices and twice a year for dual chamber devices. This is a painless procedure which takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
   

• Holter Monitors ARTICLE
   

• Event Recorders ARTICLE
   

• Coumadin Clinic
   

• Lipid Clinic
   

• Initial Consultations ARTICLE
   

• Second Opinions
   

• Follow-up Care

If any of these procedures are ordered, a nurse or your cardiologist will explain all aspects of the testing to you. In most cases, we will provide you and your family with written information about the test. If you or your family have questions, please ask us. We want you to be comfortable.

Hospital Services

Our physicians provide cardiology services at Grand View Hospital and Doylestown Hospital.  All of our doctors perform initial consultations and make follow-up visits.

Invasive/Interventional Procedures
Diagnostic catheterization, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, rotational atherectomy, intracoronary stenting, and valvuloplasty are performed by Dr. J. Doyle Walton who is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Interventional Cardiology.

Peripheral Vascular Interventions
Peripheral vascular medicine consultations, diagnostic peripheral angiography, and angioplasty and stenting are performed by Dr. J. Doyle Walton who is Board Eligible by the Society for Vascular Medicine.

Non-Invasive Procedures
These diagnostic tests include transthoracic and transesophogeal echocardiography and all forms of stress testing.  A specialized diagnostic vascular laboratory is dedicated to the evaluation of cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease. Our echocardiography laboratory has been awarded ICEAL accredidation. 

Research
Research has always been an important part of medicine.  It is through research that medical breakthroughs and better treatment modalities are established. The physicians of Alderfer and Travis Cardiology serve as Principal Investigators for several studies evaluating new ways of treating diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Our clinical research program allows us to make available promising new drug therapies and devices to our patients. Not only does involvement in these studies keep our staff abreast of the latest treatment, but research protocols often provide medication and services to our patients that are not yet available to the general population.  We encourage our patients to consider entry into research protocol when appropriate.

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