Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists’ new office-based lab at our Discovery Drive Heart & Vascular Center is committed to providing the same innovative and compassionate care that VCS patients have come to trust over the last 30 years in a cost effective and high-quality setting. The OBL is wholly owned by VCS, the largest independent cardiology practice in Virginia and a member of the Central Virginia Community.

The state-of-the-art facility specializes in cardiovascular procedures and includes six pre and post-operative bays and two procedure rooms. Our staff include Board Certified Cardiologists, registered nurses, and medical technicians who are professionally trained in cardiovascular and recovery care.


Location:

8007 Discovery Drive, Unit B, Richmond, VA 23229

The center is conveniently accessible from Interstate 95, Interstate 64, and Chippenham Parkway. We offer free, on-site parking and all departments (registration, waiting room, procedure suite, and recovery rooms) are all located in the same suite.

Days and Hours of Operation:

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: 8:00am-5:00pm

 


Preparation for Procedure:

Clipboard Icon

  • Coordinate a responsible adult to drive you to and from the facility on the date of procedure and someone to stay with you for at least 24-hours after. You will not be permitted to leave the facility unaccompanied and you will not be allowed to leave the facility in a mode of public transportation, such as a taxi or bus. For your safety, we will postpone your procedure if you do not have a responsible adult with you.
  • You should expect a call the day prior to your procedure to review instructions and to verify your arrival time.
  • No eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before, including hard candy and gum.
  • Your physician will review your medical history with you. Please ensure you provide him or her with your most up to date information.
  • To ensure a safe procedure experience, pre-operative testing may be required by your physician.

Insurance and Paying for Your Procedure:

  • One of our eligibility specialists will contact your insurance company to verify your benefits prior to your visit.
  • The eligibility specialist will contact you via telephone to review the information provided by your insurance company and to inform you of the estimate due to VCS. By being fully transparent, our patients are able to prepare financially for their procedures and make informed decisions about their healthcare.
  • For your convenience, our staff can take your payment over the phone during your insurance call or you may pay on the date of your procedure.
  • The ASC accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, bank card, check, and cash.

Day of Procedure:

Patient Icon

  • Please bathe or shower the morning of with Dial Antibacterial Soap to reduce the risk of infection.
  • Do not apply lotion, perfume, cologne, or hair products.
  • Do not wear makeup, jewelry (including watches and body piercings), or false eyelashes.
  • Do not wear contact lenses. If you wear eye glasses, please bring the case.
  • If your doctor or nurse directs you to take certain medications the morning of your procedure, please do so with one sip of water.
  • Please bring the following items with you:
    • Driver’s license or other legal photo ID
    • Insurance card(s)
    • Payment method, if applicable
    • List of current medications with dosage and frequency
    • Any medications you may need during you stay, such as insulin or inhaler
    • A copy of any advance directive documents
    • Please leave all other valuables at home.
  • For your comfort, wear loose-fitting clothes that can easily be removed and stored

Anesthesia/Sedation:

  • You will be given IV conscious sedation that allows you to remain awake yet relaxed during the procedure.

Procedures:

PVD IconPeripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a blood vessel disease that impacts the blood flow outside of the brain or heart. PVD affects arterial circulation, which are the vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the tissues of the body. Certain venous diseases, like varicose veins, are considered a form of PVD, but, more commonly, peripheral vascular disease affects the arteries, and is called peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD involves the buildup of fatty plaques in the blood vessels in the legs and tends to have a direct correlation to cardiovascular disease. Heart attack and stroke are both more common in patients with PAD, so it is vital to diagnose and treat the disease right away.

Interventional cardiologists perform minimally invasive procedures in the outpatient based lab that rely on catheters and small incisions instead of traditional surgery. These procedures include endovascular revascularization procedure (such as stents, angioplasty and/or artherectomy) for treating lower extremity ischemia.

Your doctor will use a contrast dye to visualize the arteries on a screen and overhead and take digital images and determine if you have any blockages, disruption to flow, or other issues. A catheter is guided to the narrowed part of the artery and your doctor may choose to inflate a small balloon inside the artery to open the blocked area (angioplasty), expand a tiny coil inside the artery to open the blocked area (stent), or shave away the blocked area with a tiny device on the end of the catheter (artherectomy).


After Procedure:

Recovery Heart Icon

  • You will be taken to our recovery room, where one support person will be able to visit once you are awake and comfortable.
  • Your discharge time will depend on how you are feeling.
  • Once you are ready to go home, a nurse will go over your discharge instructions and answer any questions. You and your caregiver will be given a written copy of the instructions as well.
  • Please be sure to follow all discharge instructions and make the appropriate follow-up appointments. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.