Portneuf Medical Center’s (PMC) electrophysiology program is expanding cardiac care through innovative procedures and rapid growth. The program, led by Mark Richards, MD, is gaining national attention for early adoption of advanced treatments for patients with heart rhythm disorders or heart failure.
“Portneuf Medical Center’s electrophysiology program is setting a new standard for advanced cardiac care in Southeast Idaho,” said Jacob DeLaRosa, MD, Cardiovascular Service Line Chief at PMC.
The program is on pace for a 62.8% increase in Watchman procedures in 2026 compared to the previous year. The Watchman is a device implanted into the heart in a minimally invasive procedure. It is used to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation by closing off the left atrial appendage, offering an alternative to long-term blood thinners.
Dr. Richards has also emerged as an early national leader in combining the Watchman implantation with cardiac ablation in a single procedure. Nearly 58% of his Watchman cases are now performed as concomitant procedures, an approach that allows patients to address two aspects of their atrial fibrillation care in one visit. This reduces recovery time and limits repeat hospital stays.
In April 2026, Dr. Richards performed the first cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) implant in Southeast Idaho using the Optimizer System from Impulse Dynamics. The implanted device delivers electrical signals to the heart muscle to strengthen its contractions, improving patients’ exercise tolerance and quality of life. CCM therapy is designed for heart failure patients who do not respond to standard medical therapy and are not candidates for traditional resynchronization devices.
Dr. Richards is also the first physician in Southeast Idaho to use the Boston Scientific FARAPOINT pulsed field ablation (PFA) catheter, a next-generation tool for treating atrial fibrillation. Unlike traditional radiofrequency ablation that relies on heat, PFA uses targeted electrical pulses to treat cardiac tissue with greater precision and consistency. The technology also offers substantial cost savings compared to radiofrequency equivalents in many clinical scenarios.
Together, these milestones reflect PMC’s continued investment in advanced cardiac care and its commitment to bringing the latest, evidence-based therapies to patients across the region.
To learn more about cardiac services at PMC, visit Portneuf.org/hearts