Our Clinic

Clinic Location:

Intermountain Heart Institute at
Intermountain Medical Center
5121 S. Cottonwood Street
(5300 S. and State Street)
Building #4 - Heart & Lung Center, LL1
Murray, UT 84107
Phone: (801) 507-4000
Fax: (801) 507-4811

• Please register on Level 1 before proceeding to the clinic waiting area.
• Intermountain Heart Institute: Maps and Directions

Appointment Times:

• Monday: 8:15AM - 11AM
• Tuesday thru Thursday: 8:15AM - 3:30PM
• Friday: 8:15AM - 11AM

"One-Stop" Heart Failure Clinic

In our clinic, we bring a diverse staff of providers to our patients so that they may address many different concerns in just one visit, including medical signs and symptoms, social needs and emotional support, and financial challenges related to the cost of care.

Evaluations

We can complete a full evaluation in only one or two visits, which is especially convenient for individuals and families traveling from a distance. This includes evaluations for advanced therapies such as heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices (implantable heart pumps), which require multiple provider consults and tests. We also offer shorter, follow-up visits for patients followed on a regular basis.

Consults

• Heart Failure Specialists:
  During your visit you will meet with an Advanced Care Practitioner and a Heart Failure Cardiologist.  Your medical history and current health will be reviewed, and a physical exam will be performed.  At the end of your visit a treatment plan will be outlined and discussed (see below).
• Cardiothoracic Surgeon:
  Individuals being evaluated for advanced therapies such as heart transplant or ventricular assist devices will meet with a cardiac surgeon. The surgeon will evaluate the patient's candidacy for surgery and review the details of the procedure.
• CV Critical Care:
  Our CV critical care physicians are specially trained to care for patients in the early period after cardiac surgery.  They see patients in our clinic prior to surgery to evaluate their lungs and general medical condition.  This evaluation will help identify potential problems that can be addressed before surgery, making a patient's outcome and recovery more successful.
• Pharmacist:
  Our clinic has a dedicated outpatient pharmacist who meets with many of our patients. The pharmacist will review your new and current medications and answer any questions you may have.
• Social Worker:
  Our clinical social worker provides many services to our patients. The social worker completes a full social history and evaluation for individuals being considered for advanced therapy. He also follows our patients as needed to assist them with community resources, emotional support and coping with chronic illness.
• VAD Coordinator:
  Some patients in the advanced stages of heart disease may consider a left ventricular assist device to extend and improve their quality of life. LVAD Nurse Coordinators meet with heart failure patients to provide them with device education and an opportunity to meet with another LVAD patient. LVAD nurse coordinators follow LVAD patients throughout the course of their care with LVAD, including inpatient care and future clinic visits.
• Financial Coordinator:
  Our clinic's financial coordinator assists patients with a broad range of financial needs including insurance approval for procedures and surgeries and assistance with medication and relocation expenses.
• Registered Dietician:
  Good nutritional health is important to all patients, particularly those who may require surgery.  Our registered dietician will assess a person's nutritional state and provide strategies for weight loss and an overall healthy diet.

Tests

In addition to laboratory blood tests, the following may be performed: 

• Echocardiogram:
  An echocardiogram ("echo" for short) is a cardiac ultrasound that helps assess the condition of your heart.  An echo can measure your ejection fraction (EF) which is the pumping function of your heart, and can detect any structural problems with the heart walls and valves.
• EKG (Electrocardiogram):
  An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG for short) records the electrical activity of your heart.  An EKG provides information about your heart's rate and rhythm, and can diagnose a variety of heart conditions. 
• Stress Testing:
  This exercise test is performed on a treadmill or stationary bike and will assess your physical endurance.  Throughout the test, you are connected to a heart monitor and are breathing through a mask.  The test helps determine whether your exercise limitations are due to problems with your heart, your lungs, or from being out of shape.
• Right Heart Catheterization:
  This outpatient procedure is performed to measure the pressures in the heart and large blood vessels and check how well the heart is working.  Local anesthesia is used to numb the skin and a central venous catheter or large intravenous line is placed in a vein in the neck or groin.  A long hollow catheter is placed in the venous catheter and is guided through the chambers of the heart into the large blood vessels in the lung.  Measurements are taken and the catheter is removed. 

Recommendations and Treatment Plan

At the end of your visit, you will meet again with the Heart Failure Specialist.  Based on a careful review of your medical history, physical examination, and the results of your tests, recommendations and a treatment plan will be outlined.  For patients being evaluated for advanced therapies, a final recommendation will be provided after our weekly multidisciplinary team meeting.