For Dr. Jeffrey Sparling, ensuring that every Oklahoman has access to quality heart care isn’t just part of his job — it’s personal.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Sparling understands the challenges that come with living in a predominantly rural area. He knows that for many residents, specialized medical care can feel out of reach, requiring long drives to major cities or even out of state.
That’s why, as the president of INTEGRIS Health Cardiovascular Physicians and the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital, he has dedicated his career to expanding access to life-saving treatments, ensuring that no Oklahoman has to leave the state for the highest level of heart care.
“There is absolutely no need for me to ever refer any Oklahoman anywhere else in-state or out-of-state for any cardiac surgery, procedure, specialty care, etc. It can all be done inside the INTEGRIS Health system,” Sparling explained. “It’s one of the reasons why I practice here — access to quality care is our overarching goal.”
This mission to provide world-class heart care close to home has been at the core of INTEGRIS Health for decades.
And the system’s latest investment — a brand-new INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital now open on the campus of INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center — is a testament to that commitment. This state-of-the-art heart tower is designed to offer the highest level of cardiovascular care and keep Oklahoma at the forefront of advanced heart treatments.
Top heart and lung transplant program
For those facing the most severe forms of heart and lung disease, INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital provides the only heart and lung transplant program in the state.
Celebrating 40 years in March, the program has performed over 700 heart transplants and over 475 lung transplants, making it a crucial resource not just for Oklahomans but for patients in northern Texas, southern Kansas, western Arkansas and eastern New Mexico.
Beyond transplants, INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital is also a leader in innovative heart failure treatments. The hospital is recognized as a Top 10 implanter in the nation for Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), with over 730 implants performed. These devices are often used as a bridge to transplant or as a long-term solution for patients with advanced heart failure.
“Our providers here in our heart failure program, as well as our cardiac surgeons, have really been at the tip of the spear as far as advanced cardiac therapies, and is nationally recognized for quality of care,” Sparling said. “It’s something that we are very proud of.”
Specialized programs set INTEGRIS Health apart
Heart disease is complex, and effective treatment requires more than just one-size-fits-all solutions. That’s why INTEGRIS Health also has developed unique sub-specialty programs to ensure patients receive the most advanced care available, including:
- Oklahoma’s only nationally accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Program, specializing in the treatment of this complex condition that affects both heart and lung function.
- A silver-designated Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program, which provides life-saving heart and lung support to critically ill patients.
- A multidisciplinary team that includes cardiologists, heart failure specialists, cardiothoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists and advanced pulmonary specialists, ensuring comprehensive care under one roof.
- A structural heart and cardiac valve program offering therapies for all cardiac valves and participation in world-wide clinical trials.
Expanding care to every corner of Oklahoma
Unlike multi-state health care corporations, INTEGRIS Health is the only Oklahoma owned not-for-profit health system. This means their sole focus is on Oklahomans, and they work tirelessly to bring care to the communities that need it most.
With a cardiovascular and advanced pulmonary physician group of 50 and growing, INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital has more than 40 outreach clinics across the state, staffed by expert physicians who travel to rural areas. This ensures that patients don’t have to drive for hours just to see a specialist.
“In a predominantly rural state like ours, the vast majority of us travel to towns around the state to clinics there, so that the patients themselves are able to access the providers in those particular areas that they call home,” Sparling said.
For more advanced care, patients can visit the new INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City, which serves as the center of excellence for cardiac and pulmonary care in the region.
Keeping patients close to home
One of the most significant advantages of receiving heart care at INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital is that patients don’t have to leave their families. For those undergoing complex procedures like transplants or LVAD implantation, being close to family and friends makes a big difference in recovery.
“Even if they’re coming from a rural market, their family can get home and come back,” Sparling said. “They’re not needing to go to Dallas. They’re not needing to go to Kansas City. It’s a really good resource for the patients and their families as well.”
This improves patient outcomes and also helps strengthen Oklahoma’s health care infrastructure, keeping the best medical professionals in-state rather than losing them to out-of-state facilities.
Future of heart care more than ‘OK’
As INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital continues to expand, its vision is clear: no Oklahoman should ever have to leave the state for heart care.
“Our goal is growth and expansion, so that we never have to have an Oklahoman go elsewhere for treatment,” Sparling said.
A crucial part of that expansion is attracting top-tier medical talent to Oklahoma. INTEGRIS Health is actively recruiting doctors from across the country who want to practice in a state-of-the-art medical environment while serving a population that truly needs them.
“We want doctors that are in training or practicing in other parts of the country who are looking for a place to land and develop a practice or expand their existing practice … and to do so in a great state such as ours,” Sparling added.
After all, INTEGRIS Health isn’t just another hospital system — it’s a lifeline for the people of Oklahoma. With cutting-edge heart transplants, LVAD therapy, ECMO and nationally accredited specialty programs, they ensure that every patient has access to the best care possible, no matter where they live.
For Oklahomans facing heart disease, the best care isn’t out of state — it’s right here, at home. Learn more today about the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital and its many services.
link