Sponsored by Nuvance Health, now part of Northwell Health.

NORWALK–Northwell Health’s Norwalk Hospital has received approval from the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy (OHS) to offer elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) services — a major advancement that will significantly benefit patients in Westport and surrounding communities.

For Westport residents, this approval marks a meaningful shift in access to cardiac care. Until now, patients needing elective PCI had to travel to Danbury or Bridgeport for treatment. With this new approval, patients can now receive scheduled, non-emergent coronary interventions just minutes from home.

The expansion also has a meaningful Westport connection: Arshad Yekta, MD, medical director of the Norwalk Hospital cardiac catheterization lab, is a Westport resident and a key leader behind the program’s development.

On February 17, Dr. Yekta performed Norwalk Hospital’s first elective PCI case, marking an important milestone. He has played a central role in ensuring that high-quality cardiac care is now available close to home for the community he lives in and serves.

“Being able to offer elective PCI here in Norwalk is especially meaningful to me as a Westport resident,” Dr. Yekta said. “Many of my neighbors and patients from Westport have had to travel long distances for this level of care. Now they can receive advanced treatment right in their backyard.”

Dr. Yekta joined Norwalk Hospital in 2019 and earned his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He completed his residencies in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology from the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Conn. He also performs cardiac procedures at Danbury Hospital.   

Norwalk Hospital has long provided emergency PCI for patients experiencing acute cardiac events. The addition of elective PCI completes the continuum of care, allowing patients with known coronary artery disease to receive timely treatment before blockages become life-threatening. This is particularly important for Westport, where a significant number of residents rely on Norwalk Hospital for cardiac evaluation and ongoing heart care.

PCI — commonly known as coronary angioplasty — is a critical procedure used to open blocked coronary arteries. Offering both emergency and elective PCI locally strengthens the hospital’s role as a regional cardiac center and provides Westport residents with convenient access to advanced cardiovascular services.

“This approval represents a major step forward for our patients and our region,” Norwalk Hospital President Peter Cordeau said. “When someone is experiencing a cardiac emergency, every minute matters. We are proud to already provide emergency PCI, and now, with the addition of elective PCI, our community will have even greater access to the cardiac care they need, closer to home. We are grateful to OHS for recognizing the importance of expanding this service and to our clinical teams for their unwavering commitment to excellence.”

The expanded PCI program is supported by experienced interventional cardiologists, advanced technology and a multidisciplinary cardiac team. It builds on the strong clinical outcomes of Nuvance Health’s existing PCI programs, which follow national guidelines emphasizing timely access to intervention.

“Expanding PCI services to Norwalk Hospital is a significant advancement for cardiac care in our region,” said Dr. Mark Warshofsky, chair of the Nuvance Health Heart and Vascular Institute. “Our goal is to ensure patients with coronary artery disease receive rapid, evidence-based treatment, whether in an emergency or through a planned procedure. This program reflects our continued investment in cardiovascular excellence and our commitment to improving outcomes for the communities we serve.”

The approval also enhances collaboration with regional EMS providers, who will benefit from updated transport pathways and training to support rapid access to PCI. Local referring providers will have streamlined coordination with Norwalk Hospital’s cardiac team, ensuring timely evaluation and follow-up care.

“Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States,” Cordeau added. “By expanding access to PCI, we are taking meaningful action to improve cardiac outcomes and strengthen the health of our community.”

Nuvance Health, now part of Northwell Health, has sponsored this content for Westport Journal. Nuvance Health is a system of nonprofit hospitals, medical practices and outpatient healthcare services throughout the Hudson Valley and western Connecticut, including nearby Norwalk Hospital. Visit nuvancehealth.org for more information.