IU Health West Hospital

02/18/2026

Take control of your cardiovascular health this Heart Month—

According to Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death of men and women in the United States, with one person dying every 34 seconds.

February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and take control of your heart health.

Dr. Amna Ahmed, MD, a cardiologist at IU Health West and member of the American Heart Association’s Central Indiana Board, explains what heart disease is, why understanding your risk is important and when to see a physician.

What is heart disease?

"Heart disease is a broad term we use for several heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm issues and heart failure. Coronary artery disease is the most common and impacts the main blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, the coronary arteries. This disease is caused by a buildup of plaque in artery walls, which then causes arteries to narrow and reduces blood flow to the heart. Heart rhythm issues, also known as arrhythmias, appear as an irregular heartbeat that occurs when the electrical signals that coordinate heartbeats do not function properly. This can range from be tachycardia, when the heart is beating too fast; bradycardia, when the heart beats too slow; and atrial fibrillation (AFib), a rapid and uncoordinated heartbeat. Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to
meet the body's needs."

Know your risk

"Your lifestyle, medical conditions, age and family history can all impact the risk of heart disease. These key risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. In women, menopause and psychosocial stress can also impact heart health. While understanding your risk of heart disease can be intimidating, it’s crucial—learning about your heart health can help with prevention, early detection and management and improve future outcomes."

When to see a physician

"While you can take steps at home to improve heart health—such as eating healthier, getting enough physical activity and avoiding to***co and alcohol—sometimes that’s not enough. As a cardiologist, I’m often asked, 'when is it appropriate to see a cardiologist? Many aren’t sure if their symptoms are heart related, or they want to avoid spending time in the Emergency department or doctor’s office with a 'false alarm.' However, any of the following symptoms shouldn’t be ignored:

- Chest pain, tightness or discomfort
- Shortness of breath, especially if its during normal or resting activities
- Irregular heartbeats, such palpitations or a racing pulse
- When there is a family history of heart disease
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure or cholesterol"

What is a heart scan?

"One way to easily learn about your heart health is with a heart scan, particularly a cardiac CT scan, which provides a detailed 3D scan of your heart and the surrounding areas. This allows us to easily see your heart’s anatomy and how it functions. These scans are painless and non-invasive and help cardiologists identify the various types of heart disease. They also assess heart valves, detect calcium and plaque and can help assess symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. Heart scans are a valuable tool in early detection. If you’re experiencing any heart symptoms or have heart disease in your family history, it’s best to follow the old adage of “better safe than sorry,” and come see a cardiologist. Know your risk factors and seek help from a specialist early to reduce your cardiac risk."

To learn more about heart health, visit iuhealth.org/heart.

02/12/2026

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and the departments at IU Health West Hospital are decorating to celebrate.

Marcy Burke, a senior administrative assistant in the Women’s Diagnostics Center, says patients and team members alike enjoy the decorations.

“It just makes our clinic even more welcoming. Patients like coming in here and seeing the different decorations throughout the year,” she says.

02/11/2026

A routine stress test saved his life -

When 67-year-old Anthony Marsiglio started feeling chest discomfort in late September, he assumed it was heartburn.
“After 10 nights of waking up in the middle of the night, I contacted our family doctor, Dr. Nicole Phillips” he says. “She did an EKG, saw something and ordered a stress test.”

A nuclear stress test evaluates blood flow to the heart at rest and during exertion, either on a treadmill or through medication, using a small amount of radioactive tracer. Each test is tailored to the patient and typically lasts between one and a half to two hours.

A Stress Test That Took an Unexpected Turn

Marsiglio went to IU Health West on October 9 for what he thought would be a routine stress test. Other than his recent discomfort, he had no history of heart problems.

Exercise physiologists Andrew Mungia and Jillian Baker administered the test. Mungia set him up on the EKG, took his history, checked vitals and began the treadmill portion. Baker then took over.

“The test started as any other. Anthony completed the first stage and most of the second stage of exercise with no issues,” Baker says. “Just as the third stage of exercise was about to begin, I noticed an abnormal change in his EKG.”

“In my experience, I had never seen the degree of EKG changes that Anthony had,” Mungia adds.

Baker immediately called in Dr. Scott Byers, the supervising cardiologist.

“I had my coworkers alert radiology, nursing and called a rapid response. That’s when everyone came rushing in. I continued to monitor his vitals and symptoms while Dr. Byers assessed what to do next,” she explains.
“It all happened so fast,” Marsiglio recalls. “Dr. Byers was with me. He said, ‘We’re going to wheel you upstairs.’”

A Dangerous Blockage Discovered

Dr. Byers quickly evaluated the situation, and Marsiglio was rushed to the hospital’s Cath Lab for an urgent coronary angiogram. The scan revealed a major blockage, about 80%, in the left anterior descending artery (LAD), one of the heart’s main arteries. Dr. Ibrahim S. Abu Romeh, an interventional cardiologist, placed a stent to restore blood flow.

The LAD is often referred to as the “widowmaker” because blockages there can be fatal due to the artery’s critical role in supplying blood to the heart.

“He was at relatively high risk of complications such as heart attack, arrhythmia and even death if his coronary artery disease had not been diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion,” Dr. Byers explains.

Despite the severity, Marsiglio handled the experience with calm resilience.

“I didn’t really miss a beat, no pun intended,” he says. “I didn’t have shortness of breath, exhaustion, none of it.”

The Road to Recovery

One week after receiving his stent, Marsiglio began cardiac rehabilitation.

“Whether it’s a stent, a heart attack or open-heart surgery, we typically want patients to start cardiac rehab within one to four weeks,” says Jeremy Kimbley, exercise physiologist and team lead. “The sooner they start, the faster they can begin strengthening their heart.”

Marsiglio was already an active person, an avid pickleball player who could walk up to five miles a day.
“I truly believe in exercise, so I always go as full as I can,” he says.

He attended cardiac rehab three times a week for four weeks and quickly built rapport with the team.

“It’s important to find things patients connect with in their everyday lives,” Kimbley says. “For Anthony, that was things like pickleball or deer hunting. It helps them see that cardiovascular disease doesn’t have to limit them. In most cases, we can get patients back to doing what they love.”

A New Perspective on Health

Marsiglio graduated from cardiac rehab in November and returned to his busy life as a husband, father, grandfather and real estate broker in Plainfield.

Though he hasn’t let the experience slow him down, it has changed how he thinks about his health, and what he wants others to know.

“It’s made me reflect on life. It’s taught me to pay attention and obey my doctor,” he says. “We’re all guilty of it, especially men. We don’t like going to the doctor, but it’s so important.”

To learn more about IU Health’s cardiovascular care, visit iuhealth.org/heart.

Pictured: Anthony Marsiglio working with the Cardiac Rehab team

02/04/2026

From bedside to educator-

Growing a career in nursing often begins with a single step. For Brittany Fields, that step started at IU Health West Hospital. She joined the organization in 2012 as a secretary and soon discovered her passion for patient care. While working, she pursued nursing school and graduated in 2016, eventually becoming a registered nurse on the Maternity unit. In 2022, she transitioned into her current role as a nursing professional development specialist, supporting nurses as they grow in their careers.

“I was a teacher previously. It's a big role, but I love it because it feeds my need for educating,” she says.

Fields onboards new team members, collaborates with preceptors and sets up educational classes for the unit. It’s a lot of work, but the team she works with makes it easy.

“I love everything about this team. I love the teamwork, commitment and their quick responses to emergencies that happen. They're always team focused and they just genuinely love what they do. You can see that when they're taking care of patients,” she says.

Although her role focuses largely on supporting and developing staff, Fields still values time at the bedside with patients.

“I love being able to bond with patients and to help them through a vulnerable and sometimes scary time in their lives. I love being their cheerleader and their support person, and being their advocate if they feel like their voice isn't being heard,” she explains.

As someone who helps guide the next generation of nurses, Fields has some advice for those entering the profession.

“It's important to be an active participant in your own learning, asking lots of questions and just trying to soak up as much as you can,” she says.

Fields’ path shows how a single step at IU Health can grow into a fulfilling, lifelong career. If you’re inspired by her journey and eager to make a difference in patients’ lives, explore current opportunities and find your next step at careers.iuhealth.org.

01/28/2026

Robotic bronchoscopy technology enhances early lung cancer detection at IU Health West -

IU Health West Hospital has introduced a leading edge robotic bronchoscopy system, an advancement poised to transform how lung cancer is detected and treated. Officially launched in June 2025, the technology gives physicians a safer, more precise way to biopsy small or hard to reach lung nodules. This opens the door to earlier diagnoses and improved outcomes for patients.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, in large part because it is often diagnosed in its later stages. Early detection dramatically increases survival, yet small nodules can be difficult to reach or accurately biopsy using traditional methods. This makes improved diagnostic tools essential in the fight against the disease.

“It allows for safe, minimally invasive biopsy of small lung nodules that could often only previously be reached by surgical biopsy,” says Dr. Mark Unroe, pulmonary critical care physician at IU Health West. “Additionally, it has a lower risk of complications compared to other minimally invasive techniques, such as CT guided biopsy.”

Lung nodules, tiny spots on the lungs often discovered through imaging, can be challenging to diagnose, especially when located deep within branching airways. Traditional approaches may require invasive procedures or pose higher risks, and in some cases may not be able to reach the nodule at all.

The robotic bronchoscopy platform changes this. Using advanced navigation technology and robotic precision, it threads a flexible scope deep into the lung with far greater stability and accuracy than manual techniques.

“It offers excellent diagnostic accuracy for biopsies of difficult to reach pulmonary nodules,” Dr. Unroe explains. “This allows for earlier diagnosis of lung cancer, leading to quicker time to treatment and improved outcomes.”

Lung cancer is most treatable when caught early, yet many patients face delays in diagnosis due to the complexity of evaluating small nodules. By combining robotic precision with a multidisciplinary, patient centered model, IU Health West is accelerating the path from detection to diagnosis to treatment.
The technology represents not just a new tool, but a new chapter in local lung cancer care, one where advanced diagnostics and compassionate care meet, close to home.

To learn more about IU Health’s lung cancer care, visit iuhealth.org/lung-cancer.

01/26/2026

For the safety of our patients and team members, offices in the the Indy Metro area and southern Indiana will be closed on Monday, January 26. Muncie and Lafayette area clinics are operating on a delay. If you have an appointment scheduled, please call your provider's office to change to a virtual appointment or to reschedule. See the latest information at iuhealth.org.

01/21/2026

Dr. Matthew Coghlan, the pulmonary critical care chief fellow at IU Health West, sanitizes his hands as he oversees the care for one of his patients in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

He was drawn to critical care because he’s able to see his patients improve within a shorter amount of time.

“I enjoy the acuity. With critical care, the things you do personally makes a big difference within a short window,” he explains.

As a fellow, Dr. Coghlan rotates to different facilities, including IU Health Methodist and University hospitals. This is his third or fourth time at IU Health West.

“What always impresses me here is the teamwork. It’s one of my favorite places to come out,” he says. “It really is a team sport. I love working with the nurses and the pharmacy here.”

01/19/2026

Each year, Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy is celebrated through acts of service and taking action to create a more equitable community where everyone is valued and respected, regardless of their race, ability, religion or background.

In 1994, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was designated as the only federal holiday that is a national day of service to encourage all people to volunteer to improve their communities.

In honor of King’s legacy, Community Outreach teams at IU Health Fishers, North and West hospitals organized volunteer opportunities. Team members at IU Health West assembled 75 chicken casserole meal kits that will be donated to local food banks.

“It’s important that we come together on MLK Day to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by volunteering to better our communities, just as Dr. King envisioned,” says Krystle Barber, Community Outreach consultant. “This was a great opportunity for team members to get involved and not only make a difference by addressing food insecurity, but to also inspire others to do the same.”

01/15/2026

Kyla Brixey prepares equipment for a patient room in the Intensive Care unit at IU Health West. As the team lead for Endoscopy, she brings 18 years of experience to the role and recently celebrated her fifth year with the hospital.

Endoscopy involves using specialized instruments to view the body’s internal structures, often playing an important role in diagnosing and treating conditions. Brixey first discovered her interest in the field after taking a gastrointestinal position, and she quickly realized it was where she belonged.

While patient care remains at the center of her work, Brixey has also developed a passion for educating others.

“I’m our only endoscopy trainer,” she says. “I do a lot of teaching and orienting, and I really enjoy it.”

Whether she’s preparing equipment, supporting clinical teams or guiding new team members, Brixey’s expertise and dedication are evident.

01/06/2026

Tierney Dininger and Susan Paulick are the first hospital-based spine nurse navigators within the IU Health system, providing quality and personalized care to those seeking spine pain relief at IU Health West and North hospitals.

Dininger, pictured left, is the navigator at IU Health West. She's been with the team since 2015 and took on this new role in August 2024.

As a spine nurse navigator, she focuses heavily on patient and team member education and serves as a connection between the outpatient clinic and the surgical teams.

“We have a really wonderful team. Everybody cares a lot,” Dininger says. “We're very thorough and we just want to make sure that the patients are well taken care of.”

Meet IU Health's first spine nurse navigators. They provide quality and personalized care to those seeking spine pain relief at IU Health North and West.

01/05/2026

At 4:37 p.m. on New Year’s Day, Belen Barahona-Avalos became the first baby born at IU Health West Hospital in 2026. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 19.5 inches long.

Belen’s mother and father, Migdalia and Emerson, waited to learn her gender until birth and enjoyed surprising family and friends when they arrived home. It was especially exciting for Belen’s older siblings, including three sisters and a brother, to meet her.

“She was born a little early and it was a fast delivery, but everything went really smoothly,” Migdalia, Belen’s mother, said.

Maddison Bryant was the family’s lead registered nurse on the maternity unit.

“It’s super exciting to deliver the first baby of the new year, starting off the year with a healthy birth,” Bryant said, who’s worked as a registered nurse on IU Health West’s maternity unit for a year. “Mom did great and it was really fun for everyone involved.”

At IU Health West, the first baby born on New Year’s Day receives a special gift basket containing a variety of items for the baby and family.

12/29/2025

Flu season can be tough on little ones. Explore our guide for practical tips to keep kids healthy and safe.

Committed to providing the best care for Indiana families, Indiana University Health is the most comprehensive healthcare system with a personalized approach.