Small Hearts, Big Breakthroughs: Noninvasive Pediatric Cardiology Care

Maimonides Children’s Hospital boasts the most extensive noninvasive pediatric cardiology program in Brooklyn. Our collaborative team comprises four full-time cardiologists and five full-time certified echocardiogram technologists. We provide 24/7 rapid response to handle urgent cardiac cases during critical moments after hours.

Our team manages a high patient volume, a factor that contributes to significant experience and proficiency in treating a wide range of pediatric cardiac anomalies in children. This experience has enabled us to achieve consistently high patient satisfaction ratings in recent years, a testament to our dedication to upholding the highest standards of care.

Pediatric Cardiology Services at Maimonides

Specializing in the comprehensive diagnosis and management of pediatric cardiac conditions, from prenatal development to childhood and adolescent years, Maimonides often serves as the referral destination of choice among primary pediatric healthcare providers. Our pediatric cardiology team can diagnose congenital heart conditions in utero through advanced fetal echocardiogram techniques, usually through referral from an obstetrician.

Patients We Treat

Our team regularly cares for children experiencing:

  • Breathing problems
  • Chest pain
  • Fainting
  • Heart murmur
  • Heart palpitations
  • High blood pressure

 

Some of the most common conditions we diagnose and manage include:

  • Congenital heart defects, including holes in the heart, heart valve disorders, abnormal connections of arteries and abnormal heart chamber sizes
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Heart murmurs
  • Heart rhythm disorders such as supraventricular tachycardia and premature atrial and ventricular beats
  • Kawasaki disease
  • Myocarditis and pericarditis
  • Hyperlipidemia

 

Diagnostic and Treatment Options We Offer

At the forefront of pediatric cardiac care, Maimonides offers many diagnostic and treatment options tailored specifically for young hearts. These services include:

  • Ambulatory rhythm monitoring (Holter monitor)
  • Electrocardiograms
  • Event monitoring
  • Exercise tests
  • Fetal and pediatric echocardiograms

 

Fetal Echocardiograms

Maimonides specialists are proud to offer expert fetal echocardiography services for developing babies, typically performed around 20 weeks’ gestation. With some conditions like heart rhythm problems, the baby may be able to receive treatment before birth. The team works with other specialty providers to coordinate ongoing care for babies and parents, including consulting neonatologists and obstetricians about whether or not the baby can be safely delivered locally.

Advanced Echocardiogram Accreditation

Adhering to rigorous protocols and strict guidelines, our team uses an echocardiogram as one of the main tools to diagnose heart conditions in children. Maimonides is home to the first lab in New York City accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) for echocardiogram in 2006.

“To earn this accreditation, our staff has to prove that we’re following the highest standards of care, undergo periodic case documentation submissions and renew our accreditation every three years,” explains Prema Ramaswamy, MD, Director of Pediatric Cardiology at Maimonides.

Why Choose Maimonides

Here at Maimonides, pediatric cardiac specialists have access to a wide range of specialty providers who help support children and their families with heart conditions. Depending on the specific needs, our multidisciplinary team can help coordinate care with various specialists, including ear, nose and throat (ENT), pediatric surgery, pediatric gastroenterology, nutritional support, child life services, and social work.

Wide Range of Provider Expertise

With the growth of our team comes the growth of our pediatric heart care services. Maimonides recently welcomed Nicole Perry, MD, who specializes in fetal echocardiography and complex congenital heart lesions. Dr. Perry completed medical school at Drexel University in Philadelphia and her pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at New York University.

Dr. Perry chose to join Maimonides because of the depth and breadth of pediatric healthcare that our passionate providers demonstrate. “During my training, I rotated through the Pediatric Cardiology service at Maimonides and I experienced firsthand how much my pediatric cardiology colleagues and the pediatric group of physicians love what they do,” she explains. “It’s a passion and a calling.”

She also says the ability of Maimonides staff members to work together toward the common goal of providing exceptional care is remarkable — and is the reason thousands of families trust Maimonides to care for their children’s complex heart conditions.

“Maimonides is one of the most diverse hospitals in the city and yet every physician, medical assistant, operator, and ancillary staff works together, seamlessly, for one purpose: to benefit the kids we treat,” says Dr. Perry.

Maimonides does not provide interventional procedures for pediatric cardiology patients, but care teams utilize their in-depth knowledge of each patient’s individual condition to link them to the best care available. “If a patient requires a procedure, we work seamlessly to get them to the best care possible, help families navigate the healthcare system and ensure that no patient falls through the cracks,” explains Dr. Ramaswamy. “Post-procedure, patients return to our care for ongoing management and monitoring.”

We’re the only children’s hospital in Brooklyn – and we’re proud to provide world-class pediatric cardiology care close to home. Call (718) 283-7500 to refer a patient to our care.

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