Cardiac Device Clinic

Every year, more than a third of a million Americans receive an implanted cardiac device. Pacemakers help your heart maintain a steady, normal beat. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) monitor your heart's rhythm for signs of a potentially fatal pattern and, if one appears, deliver a small jolt of electricity to restore a normal heartbeat. Pacemakers and ICDs offer a better quality of life and a longer life for millions of people.

Each month, the nurses and cardiac technicians at the Carle Heart and Vascular Institute's Cardiac Device Clinic provide follow-up care - in person and through telephone checks - to about 300 patients with pacemakers and ICDs. These devices require regular checks to ensure their battery, pulse generator and leads are working properly and to identify any potential problems. ICDs are also evaluated to see if the device has detected or treated any abnormal heart rhythms.

The Carle Heart and Vascuar Institute Cardiac Device Clinic is a valuable resource for answers to any specific questions or needs you have.