Ottumwa Regional’s Cath Lab is here to address Wapello County’s high rate of heart disease
February 16, 2025
“Feeling the fluttering in your chest you’re feeling you know nauseous, vomiting, it can present like the flu, or you can easily brush it off as anxiety, “ Eickelschulte described.
Eickelschulte experienced this not only with patients... but with her grandmother as well.
Eickelschulte said, “[my grandma] wasn’t feeling well on Thanksgiving. So, she missed out on Thanksgiving Dinner. She thought she had the flu and... found her the next day.... She did not seek medical care. “
Ottumwa Regional wants this type of care to be available to people of Wapello County. Prior to this lab opening in 2023, the nearest Cath lab was 80 miles away.
Director of the Cath Lab, Lisa Garrison said, “Traveling 80 miles is a lot on somebody that is elderly or in the winter months. So, keeping them here is the ideal situation.”
Wapello County has the third highest death rate from heart disease in the state, after only Monona and Howard counties.
Eickelschulte showed an example of a patient who came in with chest pain but ended up needing treatment for a blockage in his heart.
Eickelschulte says the updated equipment here is much better for finding these blockages with minimal radiation exposure to the patient.
Both Garrison and Eickelschulte recommend staying active, watching your diet and not ignoring any symptoms.