You can hardly turn on the radio without hearing a song about broken hearts. But apart from occasionally singing along wistfully to tunes about unrequited love, the truth is we really don’t spend much time thinking about our hearts – the physical, blood-pumping ones that make our every breath (and emotion) possible.

Until something goes wrong.

Whether it’s an emergency, a chronic condition or even just a mild concern, the Jeffery M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute at Hoag helps thousands of residents each year with whatever heart ailments they may experience. In fact, the Institute has been the preeminent place to turn to for outstanding cardiovascular care for decades. Now, with the opening of Hoag Health Center Irvine – Sand Canyon, Hoag is expanding its already wide breadth of cardiovascular care in Irvine.

“For many years, Hoag has proudly offered Orange County residents world-class cardiovascular care,” said Tom Lonergan, executive director, Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute. “What makes our services so special is our team of skilled and compassionate men and women. They truly love what they do – and just as important, they care deeply about the community and the health of those they serve. By expanding our cardiovascular services at our unique health care village in Irvine, we’re ensuring that local residents have access to excellent health care within minutes of their homes.”

Irvine and south county residents now have access to state-of-the-art cardiac rehabilitation, a highly-certified Hoag Vascular Lab, and access to many of Hoag’s top-quality outpatient services, such as echocardiogram, EKG, and Holter monitoring. Hoag also is expanding the unique Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Supervised Walking Program, offering a non-invasive therapy for those suffering from peripheral arterial disease.

Quality cardiac care is particularly critical in the case of an emergency, when every second counts. Since 2013, Hoag Hospital Irvine’s designation as a Cardiovascular Receiving Center has provided Irvine and south county patients emergency cardiac care close to home, a promise Hoag made to the community when Hoag Hospital Irvine opened.

Hoag Hospital Irvine also offers cardiac catheterization labs, for both scheduled and emergent cases, operated by a highly skilled cardiac care team, including subspecialized cardiac nurses, technicians and Hoag-affiliated physician specialists. Together, this team provides superior heart care, putting Irvine and south county residents’ minds at ease, knowing they live right by a top-rated cardiac facility. In early 2017, Hoag will install new cardiac catheterization labs that will house the most advanced technology and software available.

Top-rate is an accurate description of Hoag’s cardiac care. In the past year alone, Hoag’s cardiac excellence has been recognized through many awards and accolades, including a 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals in the nation by Truven Health Analytics, Blue Distinction® Center+ Designation for Quality and Cost-Efficacy in Cardiac Care and recipient of American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Achievement Award.

At Hoag, we wish Irvine and south county residents continued excellent heart health... and hope that the only hearts in distress in their lives are ones they hear about when they turn on their radios.