Collins is the 200th patient to obtain Cath/Vascular Lab services this year. "We are seeing more patients this year," said Robert Chavez, CV Rad Tech. "We saw about 80 patients in 2006 from the time we opened last May through last December."

The Cardiac Catheterization/Vascular Lab provides the latest in technology with all-digital x-ray imaging that cardiologists, interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons use to view and treat blood vessel blockages the could cause heart attacks, strokes and poor blood flow to the extremities. While the majority of procedures are cardiac, about one-third are for peripheral vascular disease.

Together the Cardiac Cath/Vascular staff provides over 100 years of experience to patients. Bill Colditz, Manager, Robert Chavez, CV Rad Tech, Chris Kompan, CV Rad Tech and Diane Stevenson, RN, each have more than 20 years experience in Cardiac Cath/Vascular services.

"Our staff, which has a great deal of expertise in this field, coupled with our new imaging equipment, can do pretty amazing things," said Chavez. "A lot of people think they have to go to bigger hospitals in order to obtain this higher level of services. But they can have these high-quality services completed in their own backyard."

Collins was happy to have the procedure done in Auburn, with or without the celebration. "I was elated that I could stay in town for this procedure," he said. "I wasn’t interested in driving out of the area. Besides, the hospital staff treated me great."

When Collins’s cardiac catheterization procedure was over, Colditz, Chavez, Kompan and Stevenson presented Collins with a plaque honoring him as the 200th patient of 2007. Each signed the plaque and wished Collins well. "For a small hospital, doing 200 procedures by the end of August is a pretty huge," said Chavez. "But we love what we do and we hope to see even more patients by the time we get to August in 2008."