How the Lee Health Heart Institute Works for You

February is American Heart Month, which encourages us to commit to heart-healthy lifestyles that can reduce heart disease — our country's leading cause of death.

Too many of us know the pain of losing a loved one to a heart attack, stroke, or coronary heart disease. But by adopting a healthy lifestyle and having local access to expert heart care, these conditions can often be prevented, and lives can be saved.

Read on to learn how Lee Health and its award-winning Lee Health Heart Institute stands with you in the fight against heart disease. Our premier heart disease treatment and services can help you live your best life.

Who we are & what we do

The Lee Health Heart Institute offers the largest and most experienced heart team in our region. The Institute covers all aspects of heart care, including diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care and anything else you’ll need to stay on the road to recovery.

The Lee Health Heart Institute has an alliance with Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, the nation’s leader in heart care. Patients can access primary and specialty care, nationally ranked hospitals, Shipley Cardiothoracic Center, cardiac rehabilitation services, and more at one of our cardiology locations close to you.

• Cardiologists: Lee Health Heart Institute cardiologists keep your heart healthy by preventing, evaluating and treating cardiovascular diseases. We use a variety of invasive and non-invasive techniques to help you heal when seconds count.
• Cardiothoracic Surgery: Shipley Cardiothoracic Center. Lee Health's award-winning cardiothoracic surgeons perform surgical treatments of the heart, circulatory system and lungs — including heart disease, lung disease and aneurysms — while helping to ensure faster recovery times. 
• Imaging Services: Our cardiac imaging specialists work closely with your referring physician to deliver a personalized care plan that meets your unique needs. The latest technology and AI-powered analysis lead to precise diagnoses.
• Education Spotlight: From atrial fibrillation to arrhythmia to high blood pressure to heart valves and more, our education pages empower you about conditions and treatments so you’re more in control of your care.
• Nationally Recognized Awards: Our heart experts are continually recognized for their great work. HealthPark Medical Center was recently named one of the nation’s top 50 hospitals for heart care. This is the 10th time HealthPark has earned this prestigious honor, and we’re one of only four hospitals recognized in all of Florida. 
• Heart and Vascular Institute: “HVI” is a partnership between cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and Lee Health. We constantly strive to improve the quality of care and develop new cutting-edge programs that enhance the options patients can have about their treatment. 
• Heart Care Transition Clinic: A specialized medical office for cardiac patients recently discharged from the hospital to receive follow-up medical care. The team works with your cardiologist to ensure you get the follow-up care you need.
• Rapid Diuresis Clinic: Lee Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute’s Diuresis Clinic’s specially trained cardiac team can evaluate your symptoms and design a treatment plan that’s specific to your needs at that time. This outpatient approach relieves your symptoms and improves your quality of life. 
• Heart Valve Center: The Center brings together HealthPark cardiology experts and the Shipley surgeons to offer a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to valve disease. Under one roof, patients and their referring physicians have access to the latest valve therapies, including transcatheter therapies, minimally invasive surgical approaches and traditional open-heart surgical options. 
• Lee Health’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: Our program offers heart patients the most advanced cardiac rehabilitation facility in the area.

Primary care and screenings

Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, President & CEO, Lee Health, reminds you to schedule your annual physical with your primary care physician or advanced provider so you can check in on your heart health with blood pressure and cholesterol screenings as well as your weight and other important health metrics.

“If you have not established a relationship with a primary care provider, you should because they will help you stay as healthy as possible with appropriate screenings, vaccinations and referrals to specialists, like our heart team, should you need them,” he says.

Other Resources

• Heart Health: Lee Health YouTube Channel playlist features Lee Health experts discussing a wide variety of topics
• Find a Lee Health Heart Care Physician
• Are you interested in touring the Lee Health Heart Institute? E-mail Foundation@LeeHealth.org.