Younger male doctor talking with female patient and her daughter general cardiology care

Leading heart care, close to home in Northwest Florida

Choose Ascension Sacred Heart in Northwest Florida to be your first choice – from heart and vascular screenings to surgery.

When you choose Ascension Sacred Heart, you get an experienced cardiovascular specialist and care team who are part of a national team, sharing best practices and the latest research and treatment. We are a leader in heart surgery and Pensacola’s only nationally ranked Top 50 heart hospital. Every appointment starts with a conversation. Your care team takes the time to listen and answer all your questions — so you get a personalized care plan.

Specialists at Ascension Sacred Heart diagnose and treat:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other heart rhythm disorders
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Heart attack
  • Heart valve and structural heart disease
  • High blood pressure and high cholesterol

Advanced heart care, close to home

Cardiologists at Ascension Sacred Heart are ranked among the highest-performing in the nation— following the latest treatment guidelines and using our expertise to personalize your care. Ascension Sacred Heart has also been named a Top 50 heart hospital – six years in a row – by PINC AI 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™. Our care teams provide advanced heart testing and diagnostics, treatments, medication management, surgical heart care and rehabilitation. The Heart Institute at Ascension Sacred Heart Bay is the only comprehensive heart and vascular program in the Panama City area. We are the only hospital performing open-heart surgery in the area, and our team leads Bay County in the number of heart surgeries performed every year.

Find a doctor and start by calling or scheduling an appointment online. Ask if a virtual visit is an option for your care. Need a second opinion appointment? Our team can help. Schedule a consultation today.

Multispecialty heart care team

When you need more advanced heart care, your doctor can connect you with a heart specialist close to home. From heart scans to vascular surgery, your doctors, specialists and care team at Ascension Sacred Heart collaborate, working together for you and with you. Our advanced specialty care includes:

Woman with grandchild.

Heart scans to detect risk

A simple heart screening can help you and your doctor better understand your heart health and could help save your life. Talk to your primary care doctor to see if a heart screening is right for you. A heart scan is not for everyone. It is not recommended for routine screening of people who do not have symptoms of heart disease and have a low risk of heart attacks. Some heart disease risk factors include hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use and a family history of heart disease

Black female doctor with stethoscope talking to older black patient afib care

Care for AFib and heart rhythm disorders

At Ascension Sacred Heart, our electrophysiologists specialize in the heart’s electrical system, diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders. Your doctor works with you on a personalized care plan. We provide minimally invasive treatments for AFib, including ablation, cardioversion and the WATCHMAN™ procedure.

Male doctor talking to older white male patient about structural heart valve care

Care for heart and valve conditions

Heart valve specialists at Ascension Sacred Heart provide advanced diagnostics, heart valve imaging, and personalized therapeutic and surgical treatments. Whenever possible, your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive procedure, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Talk with a heart valve specialist about treatment options that are right for you.

St. Vincent's Structural Heart Disease

Advanced surgical care for heart conditions

Surgeons at Ascension Sacred Heart specialize in minimally invasive heart surgery and open-heart surgery. Minimally invasive procedures, including TAVR, MitraClip™ and WATCHMAN™, may help shorten your recovery time and lower your risk of infection. If open-heart surgery, such as CABG, is recommended, our surgeons have the expertise to provide the advanced heart care you need.

Black female doctor talking to older female patient about heart failure and transplants

Advanced care for heart failure

If you feel you are at risk or have received a recent diagnosis, request a first consultation or second opinion from our multidisciplinary care team. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a progressive condition caused by cardiovascular diseases, cancer treatments and inherited conditions. Your doctor delivers a personalized care plan that may include medication, advanced therapeutics and surgical care.

Get a second opinion from a heart and vascular specialist

Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and cardiovascular care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension Sacred Heart. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized heart care plan.

When you are facing a new diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. If you are looking for a second opinion for advanced heart care, our cardiologists can also connect you with the right specialists for minimally invasive surgery, including TAVR, MitraClip™, WATCHMAN™, and ablation. Our heart and vascular specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national care team.

Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.

GET A SECOND OPINION

Frequently asked questions about heart care

  • When should I talk to my doctor about my heart health?

    Feeling tired or being out of breath while doing the everyday activities you usually do may be warning signs that you have a heart condition. If you have concerns about new symptoms, talk with your doctor. And if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease and haven’t connected with your doctor in a while, schedule an appointment today.

  • When should I have a heart scan?

    Your age, gender, lifestyle and medical history play a role in your heart health. If you have symptoms of heart disease or are unsure about your risk, talk to your doctor about a heart scan. A CT heart scan can help you and your doctor better understand your risk for heart attack. The imaging test delivers a coronary calcium score based on the amount of calcium-containing plaque that has built up in your heart arteries. You may benefit from a heart scan if you:

    • Are a man over age 40 or a woman over age 50
    • Are a smoker or have a history of smoking
    • Have a family history of heart attack at an early age
    • Have diabetes
    • Have high blood pressure
    • Have high cholesterol

    Talk with your doctor about having a coronary calcium scoring heart scan. You should not have a heart scan if you are pregnant, or have already had a heart attack, coronary bypass surgery or a coronary stent.

  • What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

    For both women and men, the most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women may be more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

    If you are experiencing chest pain, especially in combination with jaw or arm pain, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting or difficulty breathing, you might be having a heart attack. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

    Watch for these symptoms of heart attack in both men and women:

    • Chest discomfort, pressure or pain
    • Difficulty breathing independent of activity
    • Lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
    • New weakness or fatigue
    • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
    • Sudden pain in arm (particularly left arm), jaw, neck or back
  • What is high blood pressure?

    High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. It happens when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is too high. High blood pressure is a chronic condition that can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Talk to your doctor about risk factors and how to manage your blood pressure.

  • What are some signs of clogged arteries?

    Clogged arteries, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), happens when plaque, including fats and cholesterol, build up on your artery walls. Plaque buildup, called atherosclerosis, can slow or completely block blood flow to your heart. Symptoms of clogged arteries may include:

    • A cold sweat
    • Chest pain or discomfort (angina)
    • Light-headedness
    • Nausea
    • Pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder
    • Shortness of breath
    • Weakness

    Talk to your doctor about how to reduce your risk for coronary artery disease. If you are an adult with high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, use tobacco or have a family history of heart disease, your doctor may recommend getting a CT scan of your heart.

  • What are the different types of heart specialists?

    A cardiologist specializes in the diagnosis of heart disease and care of the heart muscle, coronary arteries and veins that carry blood.

    A heart surgeon, also called a cardiac, cardiothoracic or general thoracic surgeon,  performs surgery on your heart, lungs, esophagus and other parts of your chest. Heart transplant surgeons specialize in treating heart failure with heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices (VAD).

    Surgeons and cardiologists at Ascension sites of care are part of a national care team of doctors, sharing best practices and advanced treatment options for more complex heart care.

    Different types of heart specialists and surgeons include:

    • Cardiac rehabilitation specialist
    • Cardiothoracic (heart and vascular) surgeon
    • Congenital heart specialist, for children and adults
    • Electrophysiologist for AFib and other heart rhythm disorders
    • General cardiologist
    • Heart failure specialist
    • Heart transplant surgeon
    • Interventional cardiologist, focuses on cardiac catheterization and minimally invasive procedures
    • Nuclear cardiologist, performs advanced heart imaging
    • Pediatric cardiologist, for infants, children and teens
    • Pulmonary hypertension specialist
  • How do I find a cardiologist near me?

    If you are looking for a cardiologist or a second opinion on a diagnosis or your care plan, we can help. You’ll find that managing long-term and chronic heart care needs is easier with a team ready to support you. Your primary care doctor can connect you with a cardiologist close to home.