Dr. Margot Vloka, MD is the First Female Doctor to Complete 1,000 Heart Procedures
Dr. Margot Vloka, MD, a Cardiac Electrophysiologist at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, has become the first female physician in the world to complete 1,000 procedures using the Stereotaxis Robotic Magnetic Navigation System. The system uses powerful magnets to precisely maneuver a catheter through the heart, allowing the physician to pinpoint specific issues that trigger or sustain irregular heart rhythm.
Not only is Dr. Vloka, who has been at Saint Alphonsus for 4- ½ years, the first female physician in the world to treat more than 1,000 patients, she is just the 13th doctor in the world to reach this milestone and the only physician to accomplish this at a community hospital.
“I am proud to be the first woman physician in the world and fifth physician in the United States to perform 1,000 robotic procedures for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias,” Dr. Vloka said. “I am even more excited about the fact that I’m the first physician to achieve this distinction in the community hospital setting.”
“This has been accomplished with the enthusiastic support of the entire, excellent cardiology team at the Saint Alphonsus Heart Institute,” she added. “I want to thank the Saint Alphonsus leadership for their vision and substantial investment in robotic technology. Use of soft catheter, which Stereotaxis innovative, robotic technology allows, carries the lesser risk of complications when compared with other techniques.”
Saint Alphonsus adopted the cutting-edge robotic technology in 2011 and is a clinical and technology leader as the only Health System offering the technology in Idaho.
“Dr. Margot Vloka is a pioneer and we're honored that she has achieved this milestone at Saint Alphonsus,” said Odette Bolano, Saint Alphonsus Health System President, and CEO. “Providing the latest technology and life-saving techniques to our patients affirms our commitment to being a transforming healing presence in our community.”
Cardiac catheter ablation, also called radiofrequency ablation, is a minimally-invasive procedure that uses a catheter that is navigated through the blood vessels and into the heart. The catheter delivers energy to precise parts of the heart muscle, normalizing the electrical signals and returning the heart to a normal healthy rhythm.
