CONTRIBUTED PHOTO - Pictured is UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown’s Catherization Lab recently. When constructed 10 years ago, then owner Central Iowa Healthcare promoted it as a state-of-the art facility open 24/7 for emergency cardiac treatment. The facility was used extensively for a period, but changes in emergency cardiac treatment and an emphasis on outpatient care lessened its need.

UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown President Dustin Wright announced Monday the hospital’s Catheterization Lab will close July 1.

Wright cited several factors contributing to the decision, including right-sizing the organization after the former Central Iowa Healthcare filed for bankruptcy, the need to replace expensive Catheterization Lab equipment in the near future, more cardiac outpatient services being offered, and the ability of the hospital’s emergency department to stabilize patients with cardiac issues.

When built 10 years ago, the Catheterization Lab offered 24/7 emergency cardiac care.

“Over the past year, UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown has been extremely focused on developing efficiencies and opportunities to right-size the organization and develop a path for the future after CIH filed for bankruptcy,” Wright said. “As part of operational sustainability efforts, there have been ongoing assessments of the appropriate level of services for Marshalltown and what essential services need to remain in operation. After a thorough review, it has been determined that the Catheterization Lab will close July 1.”

Wright said four employees will be impacted, and they will have the opportunity to transfer to other positions in the hospital.

The decision was supported by the hospital’s board of directors.

“Decisions like this are difficult,” UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown Hospital Board Chair Lance Horbach said. “Especially since the Marshalltown area rallied to raise a significant amount of money (nearly $870,000) to build the Catheterization Lab 10 years ago. Consequently, we looked at all of the information thoroughly before making this decision. It made sense to build the Catheterization Lab 10 years ago when CIH was the only game in town. With its vast network, UnityPoint Health can offer a wide variety of services which will meet patients needs. And lastly, the Catheterization Lab equipment is nearing its end-of-life cycle and must be replaced within the next couple of years which is a million-dollar investment. We believed those resources can best be used elsewhere.”

Wright said patients needing emergency cardiac treatment will receive it at the hospital’s emergency department.

“Last year, we put into place a STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) protocol used at health care facilities throughout the United States and is a standard of care for facilities that have low volume such as Marshalltown,” he said. “The STEMI protocol calls for stabilizing patients and then transferring to an appropriate facility, preferably a nationally recognized heart center. When the patient is ready to return home, they are referred to their local hospital for cardiac rehab which is an area UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown will enhance and expand.

And, if necessary, patients can be transported to UnityPoint Health-Waterloo for follow-up treatment, or the patient will be taken to a facility of their choosing.”

UnityPoint Health-Waterloo has received these national cardiovascular recognitions:

Accredited Chest Pain Center by the American College of Cardiology; Top 100 Hospital in the US by IBM Watson; Top 0 Cardiovascular Hospital in the US by IBM Watson; and Great Heart Program by Becker’s Healthcare Review; and Blue Distinction for Heart Care by Blue Cross Blue Shield.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com