The Hamilton Heart Center of Community Memorial Hospital

The Hamilton Heart Center, under the direction of Dr. Carina Alfaro-Franco, MD, FACC, provides non-invasive cardiology care for patients in our area.

Dr. Carina Alfaro-Franco, a board-certified cardiologist employed by Community Memorial Hospital, will oversee the Heart Center. Dr. Alfaro-Franco and her staff offer cardiology care including non-invasive diagnostic testing. Additionally, Dr. Alfaro-Franco will be available for inpatient, outpatient and pre-operative consults and will be an important part of the critical care team. For patients needing more specialized care, the Bassett Heart Care Institute, a premier provider of heart care in upstate New York, will work in conjunction with Community Memorial to provide advanced diagnostic services, consultations for invasive procedures, and treatment options for patients with coronary heart disease.

The Hamilton Heart Center is located in the Hamilton Family Health Center building adjacent to the hospital.

Dr. Alfaro-Franco has a B.S. in biology from the University of Houston, a M.S. in chemistry from Texas Southern University and her medical doctorate from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and her fellowship in cardiology at the University of Texas Medical School. She has further training in molecular and cellular mechanisms of heart disease, electrophysiology and interventional cardiology.

To make an appointment please call 315-648-6408

Diagnostic testing

Electrocardiogram (EKG) is a simple test that detects and records the electrical activity of the heart. There is no pain or risk associated with having an EKG. An EKG may be done prior to any surgery for patients more than 40 years old and for patients who have a history of cardiac problems. Echocardiography (Echo) is a painless test that uses high-energy sound waves to create images of your heart. It provides your doctor with information about the size and shape of your heart. An echocardiogram can also show how well your heart’s chambers and valves are working.

Stress Testing provides your doctor with information about how your heart works during physical stress. During a stress test, you exercise (walk or run on a treadmill or pedal a stationery bicycle) or are given a drug to make your heart work harder while the tests are performed. There are several types of stress tests.

Stress echo uses echocardiogram images to show how well your heart’s chambers and valves are working when your heart is under stress. A stress echo can help identify areas of poor blood flow to your heart.

Nuclear stress test uses a small amount of radioactive material injected into your bloodstream. The substance travels to the heart and a special camera takes pictures of the energy released by the radioactive material. Two sets of pictures are taken; one during the exercise portion of the test and one after the heart has returned to its normal rate.

Non-imaging stress test (treadmill test) is simple stress test. The patient walks on a treadmill and the activity of the heart is monitored through EKG. If the heart is normal, then the EKG will be normal.

24 hour Holter Monitoring is a portable heart monitor that records your heartbeats over an extended period usually 24 hours. It is often used to identify problems undetected by a single electrocardiogram.

Event (loop) Monitoring is used to detect abnormal heart rhythms. Patients trigger the device to start recording when they first begin to feel signs (an event).

Interventional Cardiology Services Procedures and treatments performed by Interventional Cardiologists to prevent and repair heart problems:

• Angioplasty
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Stent & Drug Eluting Stent Placement
• Coronary Atherectomy
• Intracoronary Ultrasound
• Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation and Monitoring
• Electrophysiology Services

Cardiac Surgery

• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
• Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
• Arterial Revascularization
• Endoscopic Vein Harvesting
• Heart Valve Repair and Replacement
• Aortic Homografts
• Repair of Septal Defects, Cardiac Tumors
• Repair of Aneurysms, Dissections, Traumatic Injuries to the Thoracic Aorta