Defibrillators

Bruzese confirmed that Mercy does offer intervention care as well as a state-of-the-art, 64-slice CT (computed tomography) scanner.

"This is a non-invasive tool for diagnosing coronary arterial blockages," he said.

"It scans the entire heart in a second or two, and provides a brilliant three-dimensional image." San Juan Regional recently ordered a 64-slice CT scanner, and it should arrive by mid-summer, Buffington said.

Farmington's hospital does have a cardiac catheterization lab, something Mercy plans to open in a few months.

The products that are not yet offered here, will be in the future, according to Zaharko.

"We have a strategy to expand the program to include both diagnostic and interventional cardiology," she said.

"Our plan is to actively recruit cardiologists to be a part of the hospital," Buffington added.

Updating the program could help in getting heart doctors here and retaining them.

Mercy Medical Center has five cardiologists on staff and is not experiencing some of the issues Farmington is with recruitment and retention.

Bruzese said that could be because of Durango's high quality of life, as well as its modern hospital services.

Farmington also offers a high quality of life, and visiting physicians are impressed with San Juan Regional, Buffington said.

There, however, are problems with keeping physicians here.

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