Geisinger Lewistown Hospital expands electrophysiology heart treatment

LEWISTOWN, Pa. – Geisinger Lewistown Hospital is now offering more advanced treatment for heart-rhythm problems right on campus, bringing electrophysiology care closer to home for patients in Mifflin County and the surrounding region.

The hospital’s new, hybrid operating room that opened earlier this spring is equipped with precise imaging technology, making it a dedicated space for diagnosing and treating conditions related to the heart’s electrical system. 

Patients with arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, were already able to have pacemakers and monitors implanted at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, with additional procedures available regionally. The multi-purpose surgical suite brings a broader spectrum of care under one roof. 

Electrophysiologist Kathleen Zazzali, D.O., said this growth in capability makes needed heart care more convenient for patients and members in Mifflin, Centre, Juniata and Huntingdon counties. 

“By bringing advanced arrhythmia treatment further into our community, we are making better health easier for the neighborhoods we serve,” Zazzali said. “By offering more advanced treatment for heart-rhythm problems right here at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, we are improving upon the outstanding cardiology care we provide and allowing our patients the opportunity to receive that care close to home.”

Among the new procedures available at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital are:

• Electrophysiology studies
• Ablations (removal or scarring of heart tissue to restore regular heartbeat)
• Defibrillator implants
• Generator changes for defibrillators
• Proven and innovative methods of pacemaker implantation pioneered by Geisinger electrophysiologists

For more information on arrhythmia care at Geisinger, visit Geisinger.org/arrhythmia. 

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 126 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $15 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.