CHI St. Vincent Heart Institute electrophysiologists began seeing patients in Hot Springs on Tuesday, March 13. Drs. Tom Wallace, Mangaraju (Raj) Chakka and Prabhat Hebbar now consult with patients who otherwise would have to travel to a Little Rock clinic to receive care from an electrophysiologist.

This expansion of care to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs makes it easier for patients with heart arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation (AFib), to be diagnosed and treated close to home.

“Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is an epidemic in this country,” said Dr. Tom Wallace. “Left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as heart failure and stroke. Many of our patients live in Hot Springs. I am glad that we will be able to see them in a location that is convenient and closer.”

The physicians will see patients in the Hot Springs Heart Center on the CHI St. Vincent campus at 200 Heartcenter Lane. Five full-time cardiologists practice at this location -- Drs. Yuba Acharya, Michael Frais, Oyidie Igbokidi, Nazneen Tata and Srinivas Vengala. They consult closely with the EP specialists and look forward to having Drs. Wallace, Chakka and Hebbar in the Hot Springs office.