Keesler has DOD's busiest cardiac cath lab Published Dec. 15, 2010 By Steve Pivnick 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Medical Group Hospital's cardiac catheterization laboratory team treats more patients annually than any other medical facility in the Department of Defense. Led by Lt. Col. (Dr.) Steven Kindsvater, 81st Medical Operations Squadron cardiovascular services chief, the 19 medical professionals will complete more than 1,000 procedures in 2010. Most U.S. military hospitals have seen a decline in heart catheterization lab volume, but not at Keesler. "What accounts for the high number of procedures is our aggressiveness in seeking patients in our community to treat, including the many veterans we see as a result of our close relationship with the Veterans Administration hospital system," Dr. Kindsvater stated. The colonel is proud of his team's ability to provide nearly every procedure for the treatment of heart and vascular diseases currently available in the U.S. "There is virtually no procedure we don't do here," Dr. Kindsvater said. "Due to our experience and equipment, we have more capability to treat complex cardiovascular disease in our cath lab than essentially anywhere in Mississippi." He added, "The one service we no longer provide at Keesler is cardiothoracic surgery. However, our close working relationship with the Singing River Hospital System (Ocean Springs and Pascagoula) allows our beneficiaries to receive excellent cardiothoracic surgery care locally." Dr. Kindsvater, who's been at Keesler since 2002, estimates he has completed at least 7,000 procedures. He is one of three cardiologists on the staff. The others are Majs. (Drs.) Michael Benca and Matthew Hann, who is currently deployed. In addition, a cardiology nurse practitioner, Jennifer Walker, recently joined the staff. Other cath lab members are nurses Capt. Aimee McLaurin, 1st Lt. Leigh Fuller, Alexandria Hults, Katie Hursey and Richard Stoll. Scrub technicians include Adam Hudson, Toni Rosetti, Senior Airman Allison Weeks, Staff Sgts. Matt Worsham, Matthew Parker, Trey Garner, Matthew Worsham (deployed) and Jessica Fish. Other team members include vascular surgeon Maj. (Dr.) Michael Hogan and cardiology nurses Maj. Dion Vecchio and Lou Dick.