Billings Clinic opening two cardiac facilities

Billings (Mont.) Clinic is opening two new cardiac facilities, thanks in large part to the philanthropic support of a retired Billings Clinic cardiologist and his wife.

The John R. Burg M.D. Cardiac Center will host an open house Saturday before its physicians and cardiac care teams begin seeing patients in the new space March 31. Named after Dr. John Burg, who retired from Billings Clinic in 2006 after 33 years there, the 20,000-square-foot facility is in the main clinic building. It includes additional exam and diagnostic testing rooms, a cardiac rehabilitation space that is nearly three times larger than the previous one, and more advanced cardiac care technology.

The cardiovascular unit, also in the hospital, occupies space formerly known as the ambulatory telemetry unit. Once a 10,000-square-foot unit, the new space is an expanded 27,000 square feet and is directly above the intensive-care unit and the emergency and trauma center.

The new location “provides optimal care for individuals recovering from a cardiac event, procedure or surgery,” according to a Billings Clinic release. Patients will begin moving to the unit April 1.

When the two projects were announced in August 2012, total cost was estimated at $10.9 million. That amount has come from the Billings Clinic Classic fundraiser, the Billings Clinic Foundation, money set aside for campus expansion plans, and a gift from Burg and his wife, Pat.

Under Burg’s leadership, he and his physician partners brought coronary artery angioplasty, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and pacemaker technology to Billings Clinic. He also led the development of its cardiac rehabilitation program. Billings Clinic, in south central Montana, is home to the only accredited chest pain center in the region.

Follow Rachel Landen on Twitter: @MHrlanden