Woman on early morning run with dog

Treating Atrial Fibrillation

When you’re a patient at Providence, we help you feel better today and reduce your risk of more serious disease tomorrow. We work with you to create a personalized plan to monitor and treat your atrial fibrillation. This plan includes everything from diagnosis and treatment to the post-care support you need to feel your best. The result is compassionate, whole-person care for your body, mind and spirit.

Find a Location

Why Choose Us for Atrial Fibrillation Care?

At Providence, we see the life in you. We are committed to making a positive difference in every life we touch.

doctor placing hand on patient's shoulder

Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, which is why we’re always looking for ways to make your experience better. If your treatment requires innovative procedures, we’ve got you covered. If you need extra support, we’re here to help. In one case, the family of our patient Elliot Naftzger was forced to drive three hours for routine heart monitoring. Her care team stepped in and helped bring a portable echo machine closer to her home.

Our improved referral process makes it easier for patients to stay with Providence, the network they trust. We’ve also introduced a program to help patients get faster care through virtual visits with a nurse practitioner. This patient-centered approach is why patients have trusted Providence with their atrial fibrillation care for more than 80 years.

We take a team-based approach to treating your atrial fibrillation. Why? Because we know this leads to the best results. Every Providence patient has access to world-class care from leaders in the field. Your multidisciplinary care team includes board-certified heart care specialists who have superior outcomes treating the most complex conditions. Your care team also works closely with dietitians to help you make heart-healthy food choices, physical therapists to help you keep living life to its fullest, and nurse navigators to coordinate your care with your primary care physician.

We understand that the impact of heart disease is greater in marginalized communities. Genetics plays a part, but unequal access to great health care is also a factor. At Providence, we value, respect and support the racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual and spiritual identities of all our patients. We are deeply committed to making sure everyone in our diverse communities has equal access to the best heart care. To do this, we offer location-specific services that help meet our patients’ needs. This includes translation for non-English-speaking patients, telehealth and transportation assistance. And we never turn a patient away, regardless of their ability to pay. Instead, we work harder to make sure every patient is treated equally and with dignity – whoever you are, and wherever you’re at.

As a patient at Providence, you belong to one of the largest community-based networks for heart care in the United States. This means your local heart care team shares knowledge and experience with other cardiac specialists across 51 hospitals in seven states. If specialty care is needed, your heart care team can easily reach the physicians with the most expertise. Take the story of our atrial fibrillation patient Jim Halff. When his heart medications sapped his energy, he looked to the Providence network to find a national leader in cardiac electrophysiology to perform an ablation procedure using state-of-the-art 3D mapping. This helped block electrical signals that were creating an irregular heartbeat, and Mr. Halff is now back to feeling like himself again. The power of our network is one of the reasons more than 125,000 atrial fibrillation patients, and more than 400,000 heart patients, choose Providence each year.

Providence is well known for offering options – and hope – to patients seeking the most advanced therapies to treat atrial fibrillation and all types of arrhythmia. The Providence network was the first on the West Coast to offer our atrial fibrillation patients the Convergent Procedure. In it, a cardiothoracic surgeon and an electrophysiologist work at the same time to perform a minimally invasive surgery and catheter ablation (small burns or freezes). This groundbreaking procedure significantly reduces the risk and recovery time for the patient.

We participate in national and international data registries that track cardiovascular outcomes. This helps us learn more to continually improve our care for you. Our doctors and scientists also support groundbreaking research projects and treatments. Our leadership helps us provide better heart care – and a better life – for you and your loved ones.

More About Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. It is often abnormally fast and can lead to blood clots in the heart. For some people, this can lead to stroke, heart failure or other cardiac conditions.

Testing and Diagnostics

Doctor pointing to chest x-ray

Your heart care team uses many different methods to find out which therapies work best for you. They look at your symptoms, other medical conditions and overall health. They also use the most advanced diagnostics to evaluate your condition. Depending on your case, this may include one or more of the following:

Personalized Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

We know that no two patients are the same. This is why your care team works with you to design an individualized treatment plan based specifically on your heart condition and your personal needs. Every treatment plan includes lifestyle changes to support your recovery and long-term heart health.

Your care plan may include one or more of the following therapies:

  • Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) treatment (includes WATCHMAN device)
  • Maze procedure
  • Pacemakers
  • Prescription medications

Find Heart Care Close to You

Meet the Team

At Providence, you'll have access to a vast network of dedicated and compassionate providers who offer personalized care by focusing on treatment, prevention and health education.

Female doctor wearing mask, doctors in background

Contact Us

Patient Stories and Expert Tips for a Healthy Heart

Synergy at the Advanced Care Center
4/8/2024
With five specialty practices under one roof, patients experience optimal care with maximum convenience at the Providence Advanced Care Center.
Talking to an expert: The crucial role of nutrition in cancer care
3/19/2024
In honor of National Nutrition Month® Alyssa George, MA, RDN, program manager at Oncology Nutrition, Providence Cancer Institute, talks about the important connection between cancer and nutrition.
Healthy eating tips for older adults
3/20/2024
Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is important as we get older. Providence Swedish Dietitian Meghann Karch has tips on how to eat healthy as you age.
Providence Medical Group opens vascular clinic in Aberdeen
2/29/2024
The Providence Medical Group (PMG) opened a vascular surgery and vein clinic in Aberdeen in December 2023 to better meet the needs of the Grays Harbor community.