KFSH builds a four-decade cardiac program from one cath lab to an integrated heart center

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre says its cardiac services have grown from a single catheterization lab in 1985 to an integrated cardiovascular program in Riyadh. The hospital says a new emergency department cath lab has cut the time to reopen a blocked artery by 50% for heart attack patients.

Why it matters: - KFSH’s cardiac program shows how long-term investment in infrastructure, digital tools, and specialist teams can shorten emergency treatment times. - The expansion matters for heart attack patients because faster access to catheterization can improve the speed of restoring blood flow. - The program also reflects a broader shift from standalone procedures to coordinated emergency cardiac care.

What happened: - KFSH marked four decades of cardiac development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. - The hospital started in 1985 with one cardiac catheterization laboratory, one operating room, four intensive care beds, and six coronary care beds. - KFSH built its own cardiac team in 1985 across cardiac surgery, adult cardiology, and pediatric cardiology. - By 1988, the service had expanded to four operating rooms, 19 cardiac surgical intensive care beds, and nine coronary care beds, later increased to 10. - By 1995, cardiovascular services had grown to four catheterization laboratories. - In 1999, KFSH upgraded and digitalized its catheterization and echocardiography laboratories, installed a departmental server, and connected the department through a network. - KFSH now operates Saudi Arabia’s only accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI. - The center is supported by an integrated emergency cardiac pathway linking emergency medicine, cardiology, catheterization services, and evidence-based protocols. - Dr. Hani Alsergani, executive director of the Heart Center of Excellence at KFSH, said the latest step is a dedicated cardiac catheterization lab inside KFSH Riyadh’s Emergency Department. - Alsergani said the emergency lab has reduced by 50% the time between a heart attack patient’s arrival and reopening a blocked artery through catheterization.

The details: - KFSH says the emergency department cath lab brings diagnostic and interventional capability closer to patients at the point of emergency care. - The hospital says its cardiac growth has been shaped by specialized expertise, technology, and more integrated care models. - The care pathway combines emergency medicine, cardiology, catheterization services, and evidence-based protocols. - KFSH says the four-decade buildout moved the hospital from a single laboratory to an integrated cardiovascular ecosystem. - KFSH was ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 12th globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers for 2026. - Brand Finance named KFSH the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East for 2026. - Newsweek listed KFSH among the World’s Best Hospitals, World’s Best Smart Hospitals, and World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for 2026.

Between the lines: - The latest emergency department cath lab suggests KFSH is pushing cardiac care closer to the point of arrival, which can matter most in time-sensitive cases. - The timeline also shows a steady move from capacity expansion to digitization, then to workflow integration. - That pattern points to a strategy focused on reducing delays, not just adding equipment.

What's next: - KFSH is likely to keep building on its integrated heart-care model as patient needs become more complex. - The hospital’s future gains will likely depend on further workflow integration, specialist capacity, and technology upgrades. - The emergency cath lab’s 50% time reduction sets a benchmark for future process improvements.