Saint Joseph Medical Center Launches Advanced Cardiology Tech
PFA offers safest technology for treating atrial fibrillation, other rhythm disorders
JOLIET, Ill. (August 13, 2025) – Saint Joseph Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, has introduced one of the latest innovations in cardiac care with the launch of Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) technology in its cardiac catheterization lab. The new technology, unveiled in mid-July, is among the most advanced and safest methods available for treating atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) and other cardiac rhythm disorders.
Joliet’s Ahmad Abdul-Karim, M.D., a highly experienced electrophysiology cardiologist who’s performed countless procedures to correct irregular heartbeats, explained, “The heart, as we know, is a highly complex system – its structure, vessels, and electrical conduction pathways must all function in harmony. Electrophysiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the heart’s electrical system. Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) represents a significant advancement in the way that they can treat these disorders. It’s next-generation technology that offers a safer, faster, and more precise approach compared to traditional methods.”
When Prime Healthcare welcomed Saint Joseph Medical Center to its family of award-winning hospitals in March, it promptly sought opportunities to expand clinical service offerings that would benefit the needs of the community. First among them was a new surgical system and the latest neuro-surgical mapping software for the hospital’s highly regarded stroke and neuro program. But Prime also quickly recognized the critical importance of investing in advanced Pulsed Field Ablation for patients in need of electro-cardiology treatment.
“We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both our early patients and our cardiology teams, who love the new system,” said Sunil Patel, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Saint Joseph. “It’s a big win for the hospital, and a win for the greater Joliet community. Saint Joseph Medical Center is one of the few cardiac programs in the region that currently offers PFA for its patients.”
Most hospital cardiac catheterization labs still use Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation to treat electro-physiology issues in patients’ hearts, such as tachycardia (heart racing), or A-Fib (an irregular heartbeat), which can lead to stroke or heart failure if left untreated.
However, due to the heat source that RF ablation relies on, there are risks of injuries to other parts of the body, such as the esophagus and phrenic nerves, which run down the neck and control one’s diaphragm and breathing, or even perforations of the heart tissue itself.
Unlike RF ablation, PFA does not use a thermal source, and it is far more selective of the cardiac tissue it is treating. Because of this, there is significantly less chance of injury to the body’s other structures and cardiac tissue. Patients are also under anesthesia for less time as well because PFA treatment takes far less procedural time.
Clinical data has specifically shown that PFA provides lower rates of nerve injury, cardiac tamponade, a condition in which fluid collects in the sac around the heart and constricts it, or pulmonary vein stenosis, in which the veins carrying oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart become narrowed or blocked.
Patients interested in learning more about Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) are encouraged to speak with their primary care provider or cardiologist to determine if this treatment is appropriate for their individual condition.
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