Lafayette, LA (January 9, 2026) – Cardiac care in Acadiana took another step forward today as FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes relocated its new Electrophysiology (EP) Lab to the FMOL Health | Our Lady of Lourdes Heart Hospital, good news for area patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), abnormal heartbeats and other cardiovascular care needs.
Designed with patients and providers alike in mind, the new 3,600-square-foot EP services space includes new pre- and post-operative rooms in addition to a new Philips Azurion 7 B12 Series biplane, the industry’s leading image guided therapy system for electrophysiology and cardiac cath lab procedures. The Azurion 7 allows providers to seamlessly control all relevant applications from a single touch screen at table side, enhancing accuracy and workflow for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac diseases and abnormal heartbeats (arrythmia). The space also can be used to perform various implants, from common devices like pacemakers and defibrillators to advanced technologies like leadless pacemakers, subcutaneous defibrillators, and conduction system pacing.
The project was completed by local design firm Moliere Chappuis Architects and constructed by Kent Design Build. Work on the space began in August 2025, the latest development in the overarching Advancing Acadiana initiative – a $100 million multi-year, multi-phase investment across all Our Lady of Lourdes campuses structured to meet the growing healthcare needs of area families and ensure we treat our patients in the right place, with the right resources, at the right time. Advancing Acadiana includes a $25 million investment at Heart Hospital to expand surgical capacity with – in addition to the new EP Lab – two new operating rooms and a new 8-bed inpatient unit.
“Our Lady of Lourdes Heart Hospital is Acadiana’s only hospital dedicated solely to heart care. The continued investment in this facility helps ensure we are providing the highest level of cardiovascular care in one location, closer to home,” said Julian Briggs, Our Lady of Lourdes vice president of cardiac services. “This new advanced, hybrid space allows providers to perform EP procedures, like cardiac ablations and EP studies, in addition to catheterizations, valve replacements, angioplasties and more with increased efficiency, providing optimal experiences for both the patient and provider.”
AFib is a common form of an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, in the upper chambers of the heart. Symptoms include heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness or lightheadedness. High blood pressure, coronary artery disease, valve disease and diabetes can cause AFib. Without early intervention, AFib can worsen, becoming more sustained over time. About 10.5 million adults in the U.S. have an AFib diagnosis, according to the American College of Cardiology, which recently released a study indicating the number may be three times higher than previous estimates. Those with an AFib diagnosis are at greater risk for stroke, heart attack and chronic kidney disease.
One of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery according to Healthgrades, Our Lady of Lourdes Heart Hospital is an award-winning facility that offers PulseSelect™, WATCHMAN™ and other groundbreaking procedures for AFib diagnosis and treatment. Discover more by visiting LourdesRMC.com/heart. Stay on top of developments in the Advancing Acadiana initiative at LourdesRMC.com/AdvancingAcadiana.
To set up an interview or tour of the new EP services at Heart Hospital, Contact Trevis R. Badeaux, Senior Marketing Strategist, at (337) 470-4117 or Trevis.Badeaux@fmolhs.org.
