Our Services

North Shore Cardiovascular Associates is the largest cardiovascular practice on Boston's North Shore. Our 15 physicians are all board-certified with many years of experience. Our combined expertise includes Cardiovascular Disease treatment and prevention, Cardiac Electrophysiology and arrhythmia management, Interventional Cardiology and Vascular Medicine.

We are the only physicians on the North Shore to provide primary angioplasty--a life-saving procedure that allows the fastest method of opening blocked arteries in patients suffering from a heart attack.

We treat and manage the following: Arrhythmia Cardiomyopathy Cholesterol Adult Congenital Heart Disease Congestive Heart Failure Coronary Artery Disease Hypertension Peripheral Artery Disease Preventive Cardiology Smoking Valvular Heart Disease

We perform the following procedures: Arrhythmia Ablation Cardiac Catheterization Echocardiography Nuclear Cardiology Pacemaker Therapy Angioplasty / Stent Placement Valvuloplasty Cardiac Electrophysiology Defibrillator / Pacemaker Implantation Interventional Cardiology Peripheral Vascular Angioplasty and Stent Placement

We work closely with North Shore Medical Center and Mass General Hospital Credentialed Cardiothoracic Surgeons, who perform cardiac surgery at NSMC Salem Hospital. Read more.

Our Affiliations:

North Shore Medical Center
The NSMC Heart Center is the only full service cardiovascular program on the North Shore. It has been recognized by the hospital as a Center of Excellence and includes top-rated Heart Attack and Heart Failure Care services. Our physicians perform cardiac catheterizations and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI's) in NSMC's state-of-the-art catheterization laboratory. Because of this capability, a patient who is having a heart attack can get a life-saving procedure immediately here on the North Shore without having to be transported to a Boston hospital. And because time is critical to survival, having these services available close by can make the difference between life and death.

In addition, NSMC offers the only open heart surgical program on the North Shore, whose team works closely with our physicians to provide comprehensive cardiac care. These cardiac surgeons perform complex coronary artery bypass procedures as well as valve and aortic surgery. In addition, if a patient undergoing cardiac catheterization needs urgent cardiac surgery, having onsite cardiac surgeons allows us to bring the patient directly to the hospital's operating rooms for immediate treatment. These surgeons are also on staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Massachusetts General Hospital
In addition to NSMC's cardiac surgeons, our interventional and vascular physicians are on staff at Massachusetts General Hospital and perform procedures, if necessary, there as well. We also staff, with our Mass General colleagues, the cardiology practice at the Mass General / North Shore Center for Outpatient Care in Danvers.

Our physicians work with patients to identify and treat multiple risks for heart disease. These risk factors include high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), diabetes (Type 1 or 2), obesity and smoking.

We have two cardiac electrophysiologists in the practice. Electrophysiologists are cardiologists who specialize in abnormal rhythms of the heart. We evaluate and treat the full range of rhythm disturbances including rapid and slow heart rates, palpitations (skipped or extra beats), lightheaded spells and blackout spells. Most patients can be treated medically for these conditions. When necessary, we provide a full range of invasive electrophysiology testing and treatments. We offer ablation therapy to permanently cure some rapid rhythms. We place and manage electronic pacemakers for slow heart rhythms and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemakers to help manage heart failure. We place and manage electronic implantable defibrillators to prevent sudden death due to certain abnormal heart rhythms. After placing a device, we provide continued longitudinal care of the patient (and their device).

Pacemaker Clinic: If you do have a pacemaker or ICD implanted, we provide assessment and reprogramming of these devices, as needed on an outpatient basis in our Pacemaker & Implantable Cardiovert Debifibrillator ICD Clinic located at both our 331 Highland Avenue Office and NSMC Salem Hospital's Macomber 5 Clinic. We also highly recommend NSMC's ICD support group.

Interventional cardiology refers to a range of therapies to treat blockages in the vessels that feed the heart, including angioplasty, stent placement, atherectomy and clot extraction. These procedures offer a less invasive method for treating heart problems than surgery. Our expanding Peripheral Vascular Program offers advanced treatment of peripheral artery disease. Our interventional cardiologists offer the most advanced therapies, including:

• Catheterization procedures
• Coronary angiography
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (balloon angioplasty/stent)
• Intravascular Ultrasound
• Pericardiocentesis
• Studies of patients with pulmonary artery hypertension
• Carotid, aortic, renal, iliac, and subclavian angioplasty and stenting

Click here for more information about NSMC's Heart Center.

Our vascular medicine specialists diagnose and treat a range of vascular diseases and conditions including peripheral arterial disease (PAD), carotid artery disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Many of these conditions can be diagnosed in our non-invasive vascular lab, which is ICAVL (Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories) certified. These conditions are treated by our vascular medicine specialists and endovascular specialist with angioplasty, stents, and in the case of abdominal aortic aneurysms, aortic stent grafts.

Our physicians and clinically-trained technicians use a variety of tests to construct a detailed profile of your heart's function. Below you will find a list of cardiac tests. Please click the link for a detailed description. This will help you understand what to expect.

Cardiac Stress Tests
Routine Stress Tests
Imaging Stress Tests
Cardiac Ultrasound
Event or Holter monitor
Tilt table
EP (electrophysiology) study
Cardiac Catheterization

North Shore Medical Center, in collaboration with our physicians and staff, provides many programs to assist you in improving your risk factors and helping you to make important lifestyle changes.

Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: NSMC's 13-week program is both comprehensive and individually tailored to your needs. Its goal is to empower you to make healthier lifestyle choices. Clinic sessions are held once a week for two and a half to three hours. The team consists of cardiologists, cardiovascular nurse clinicians, nutritionists, exercise specialists, and a consulting psychologist. There is a certified tobacco treatment specialist on staff and two certified diabetic educators. Click here to read more.

Cardiac Rehabiliation Program: Cardiac Rehabilitation complements the medical and/or surgical treatment plan outlined by your physician. This program will help you reduce your cardiac risk factors, strengthen your heart and improve your fitness level. Most participants complete the program within 12 weeks, although the duration of the program varies according to a patient's recovery progress, fitness level, and insurance coverage. Classes are available to accommodate most schedules. Click here to read more.

Click here to understand how Cardiac Rehabilitation saves lives.

Wellness & Integrative Medicine: Wellness & Integrative Medicine at NSMC is committed to caring for the whole patient: mind, body, and spirit. Our many classes and workshops are designed to help you enhance your fitness, reduce your stress, and improve your diet and nourish your soul. We offer year round lectures, classes, and conferences for the general public and for health care professionals. Click here to read more.