Heart & Vascular

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. It affects both men and women, and can occur midlife or in old age. At UNC Health Rex you’ll find a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular care. Our expert physicians will work together to provide exceptional care for your most critical situation.

Comprehensive Cardiovascular Services

UNC Health Rex offers a full range of cardiac services to guide you through prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery. Take advantage of:

• State-of-the-art diagnostic and screening technology with specialists who interpret and explain your test results in easy-to-understand terms
• High-tech cardiac catheterization lab
• Individualized treatment plans that could include nutrition and exercise recommendations, prescription drug therapy, minimally invasive therapies, and top-quality heart surgery
• First-rate care for your veins and arteries, including minimally invasive treatments and vascular surgery
• A comprehensive cardiac rehab program to get you back on your feet after surgery
• A cardiac survivor support group which provides information and encouragement through your recovery
• Access to the latest diagnostic and treatment techniques through clinical research trials
• An Early Detection Center, which provides resources to identify your risk for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease, including Online Risk Screenings

Experts in Cardiac Care

UNC Health Rex is a premier hospital for acute cardiac care. We have a full-spectrum emergency cardiac care program and offer fast track treatment, which can prevent a severe heart attack from occurring. We’re the only hospital in Wake County to earn an above average rating for heart attack survival and we’ve been designated as an Accredited Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

In 2021, UNC Health Rex received the Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for the second year in a row. The Platinum Performance Achievement Award recognizes a hospital’s success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients by meeting aggressive performance measures. Achieving Platinum status was a direct result of efforts focused through our value stream projects. UNC REX has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain - MI Registry for four consecutive years (2018 - 2021). 

UNC Health Rex has been recognized as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care. Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty care - safely, effectively, and cost efficiently. Learn more about the Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care.

UNC Health Rex is also named to a list of the nation’s 50 Best Cardiovascular Hospitals by IBM Watson Health. The Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study is now in its 20th year. The study is an annual, objective and quantitative analysis that identifies the nation’s best providers of cardiovascular care, based on publicly available data and clinical, operational and financial performance metrics.

The American College of Cardiology has awarded UNC Health Rex the HeartCARE Center™ National Distinction of Excellence for demonstrating commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality cardiovascular care and its ongoing performance reporting. UNC Health Rex is the first in Wake County and in North Carolina to receive this new designation.

Our award-winning team of heart care specialists is committed to providing you with the personalized care you deserve. Our comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach gives you access to the latest procedures performed by a highly-skilled team who will assist you throughout your diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Your team may include:

• Board-certified cardiovascular physicians
• Surgeons
• Specially trained nurses
• Cardiovascular clinical nurse specialists
• Diagnostic staff
• Dietitians
• Rehabilitation therapists
• Medical social workers
• Pathologists
• Hospice representatives
• Pastoral Care representatives
• Volunteers

Our team of renowned cardiologists, vascular specialists and surgeons come together from three specialty practices: North Carolina Heart & Vascular, REX Cardiac Surgical Specialists and REX Vascular Specialists. These specialty practices provide top-quality, comprehensive heart and vascular care in locations throughout Wake County and Eastern North Carolina.

Did you know Heart Attacks have beginnings™?

Learn how you can prevent a heart attack and take the Early Heart Attack Care™(EHAC®) Pledge to save a life. EHAC not only save a life, it saves the quality of a life.