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Cardiology Services at Parkwest Medical Center

Award-Winning, Comprehensive Cardiac Care Close to Home

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Heart Care When You Need It Most

When you’re searching for comprehensive heart care services, you’ve come to the right place. Parkwest’s Heart Center is ready to offer you comprehensive cardiovascular services that cover the continuum of your heart care needs. 

From testing services to cardiac rehab, advanced diagnostics, interventional technologies, to cardiovascular surgeries, our extensive menu of cardiac care options are customized to meet your unique needs. We also offer clinical trials, to remain on the cutting-edge of cardiac care services.

A cardiologist doctor examines images on multiple computer screens in an operating room.

East Tennessee’s Trusted Choice for Heart and Vascular Care

Your heart is more than a muscle — it’s the lifebeat of your very being. If you experience unusual heart symptoms or a serious cardiac event, you need care you can trust, delivered in a compassionate environment by experienced medical professionals.

As East Tennessee’s leader in cardiac services, Covenant Health Heart Centers provide expert care to more than 107,000 heart patients throughout our region each year. Our network of nine hospitals and 25 cardiology practices offers the latest advances in cardiology, including cardiac imaging, interventional cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, and rehabilitation. 

Award-Winning Cardiac Care

Consistently recognized as a top-performing cardiac care hospital, we were recently honored as one of the nation’s Top 50 cardiovascular hospitals by Fortune.com and IBM Watson Health. We’re also proud to be annually recognized by the American Heart Association for exceeding benchmark expectations for excellence in cardiac care.

In 2025, Parkwest received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Mission: Lifeline® Awards: STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

When you put your heart in someone’s hands, you need to know you’ll receive the best care possible for what truly matters. At Parkwest Medical Center, we’ll take excellent care of what matters most. Because we take great care to heart.

It’s time to experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re receiving the excellent cardiac care services—tailored just for you.

American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines STEMI Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll; and NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes 2025 logos.

Types of Cardiovascular Conditions We Treat

Discover the wide range of heart and vascular conditions expertly treated at our location.

Arrhythmias and Electrical Disorders

Arrhythmias are conditions that disrupt the heart’s normal rhythm or electrical signaling, leading to irregular heartbeats. These issues can cause symptoms like palpitations, dizziness or fainting and may increase the risk of complications such as stroke or heart failure. Examples include:

  • Atrial fibrillation (Afib)
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Cardiac Syncope

Structural Heart Diseases

Structural heart diseases involve abnormalities in the heart’s physical structure, such as its walls, chambers, or valves. These defects can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired, potentially disrupting blood flow, heart function, or electrical activity.

  • Adult congenital heart disease
  • Holes in the heart (e.g., patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal defect (ASD))
  • Cardiac tamponade

Coronary Artery and Ischemic Heart Diseases

These heart diseases occur when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced due to narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, often caused by buildup of plaque. This can lead to chest pain, heart attacks or other complications. Examples include:

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Mesenteric insufficiency

Valvular Heart Diseases

These conditions affect the function of one or more of the heart’s valves, disrupting blood flow through the heart. These conditions can involve valve narrowing, leakage, or improper closure, leading to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath or heart failure. Examples include:

  • Aortic stenosis
  • Mitral valve regurgitation
  • Tricuspid valve regurgitation
  • Mitral valve stenosis
  • Aortic valve regurgitation
  • Pulmonary valve stenosis
  • Pulmonary valve regurgitation

Vascular Diseases

These conditions affect the blood vessels, impairing blood flow and increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications. These diseases often involve narrowing, blockage, or weakening of arteries or veins and can lead to serious issues such as heart attack, stroke or limb ischemia. Examples include:

  • Lymphedema
  • Varicose Veins
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
  • Aortic dissection
  • Raynaud’s disease
  • Spider veins
  • Claudication
  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Aneurysms

Hypertension and Heart Failure

Hypertension (high blood pressure) occurs when the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and other complications. Over time, it can strain the heart and blood vessels, leading to serious conditions like heart failure.

 

Respiratory Disorders

These conditions affect the lungs and breathing that can directly impact heart function or result from heart disease. These disorders often cause strain on the heart and lead to complications like pulmonary hypertension or heart failure. Examples include:

  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Pneumothorax
  • Pericardial effusion

Cardiac Diagnosis and Treatment

At Parkwest, we’re on a mission to provide residents of East Tennessee with the comprehensive, cutting edge cardiac services you need and deserve. Our Heart Center has been recognized and awarded for the extensive, top-quality cardiac services we provide.

Trust Your Heart to East Tennessee’s Leading Cardiac Surgery Team

Our elite cardiac surgeons and specialty-trained staff perform over 3,500 diagnostic procedures and 400 open heart surgeries annually at our state-of-the-art facilities in Knoxville. With comprehensive care from surgery through rehabilitation, Parkwest Medical Center delivers exceptional outcomes through our collaborative approach and advanced cardiac facilities.

Advanced Surgical Services

Hybrid Cardiac Operating Room

Our state-of-the-art hybrid operating room combines advanced imaging technology with a traditional surgical suite, enabling minimally invasive treatment of aortic aneurysms through catheter-based procedures.

Surgical Skill

Parkwest’s elite cardiac team brings award-winning expertise to East Tennessee, combining extensive training with the highest quality ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons as part of Covenant Health’s premier heart surgery program.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

At Parkwest Medical Center, we’re proud to be East Tennessee’s first provider of TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement), offering a lower-risk alternative for patients with severe aortic stenosis who aren’t candidates for traditional heart surgery.

Learn more about TAVR

Cardiac Units

Cardiac Specialty Unit

Located on 3 Riverstone (aka the third floor, Riverstone wing), this unit provides medical care to patients with various acute and chronic cardiopulmonary health problems. It has cardiac telemetry capability and specializes in post-heart catheterization recovery.

Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Unit

The Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Unit is located on 3 Riverstone and provides specialized care to patients who have had cardiac or other thoracic surgical procedures.

The Cardio/Pulmonary Unit

The Cardio/Pulmonary (Renal) Unit is located on 5 Riverstone and specializes in cardiac, pulmonary, renal and high-acuity medical patients who require intermediate intensive nursing. All rooms provide cardiac/pulse-oxymetry monitoring through wireless telemetry.

parkwest campus floor map

Parkwest Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

Parkwest Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation was one of the first programs to receive national certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation for consistent clinical outcomes with lung patients.

Parkwest Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
A Covenant Health physical therapist adjusts settings on a stationary bike for her patient.

A Story of Strength

With a large family including seven children and 43 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Kim Arnott has a lot to live for. He and his wife enjoy spending time outdoors, which is where he first experienced some chest pain. A visit to his physician showed he needed urgent heart bypass surgery. After a speedy recovery, Arnott completed cardiac rehab at Covenant Health-South and is back to enjoying life with his family.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are committed to patient education and transparency in our care. If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact us for a consultation.

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

Symptoms of heart disease can vary based on the specific condition, but common signs include:

  • Chest pain or discomfort (angina): Often feels like pressure, tightness, or squeezing in the chest, especially during physical activity or stress.
  • Shortness of breath: May occur during activity, rest, or while lying flat.
  • Fatigue: Persistent tiredness, even with minimal exertion.
  • Swelling (edema): Particularly in the legs, ankles, or feet, often linked to heart failure.
  • Heart palpitations or dizziness: Common with arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats.
  • Radiating pain: Chest pain that spreads to the arms, neck, jaw, or back, often associated with coronary artery disease.

If you notice these symptoms, consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.

What are heart attack symptoms in men and women?

Heart attack symptoms can differ between men and women:

Common Symptoms in Men:

  • Chest pain or pressure, often described as a squeezing or heaviness.
  • Pain that radiates to the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, or back.
  • Shortness of breath.

Common Symptoms in Women:

  • Chest discomfort, but it may feel less severe or atypical.
  • Nausea, vomiting, or indigestion-like symptoms.
  • Fatigue, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
  • Pain in the back, jaw, or neck.

If you suspect a heart attack, seek medical help immediately, as prompt treatment can save lives.

What is open-heart surgery?

Open-heart surgery is a procedure where the chest is opened to allow direct access to the heart. It is typically performed to repair or replace heart valves, bypass blocked arteries, or correct congenital heart defects that cannot be treated with minimally invasive approaches.

How do I schedule a cardiology appointment?

Cardiology appointments require a physician order. Our Customer Care Center can guide you through the process and help you find the right heart specialist close to home. Call us today.

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