A major new project is underway at a local hospital. A $3 million heart catheterization lab is already under construction within Conemaugh Nason Medical Center. It’s at the front of the Roaring Spring hospital, in the former occupational health department.

At the lab, doctors will perform heart caths to diagnose problems, and implant stents to open blocked arteries. In addition, the cath lab will offer other vascular procedures, such as clearing blocked arteries in the leg.

Conemaugh Nason CEO Tim Harclerode says, “it means continuing to keep our care close to home. That’s the most important thing to use. We want to  offer services that make sense in the community that we can do in the same high quality we do everything with already and cardiac services is definitely one of those.”

Harclerode adds that Conemaugh Memorial in Johnstown will be the open heart support backup for patients whose condition requires surgery, instead of just a stent.

He expects the lab to be open for patients by mid-January.