Cardiothoracic Surgery & Specialty Care - Dignity Health Medical Group - Bakersfield, CA

Our board-certified physicians and skilled nurse practitioners focus on building long-term relationships with you and your family. Your care team may include specialists in endocrine surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and infectious disease.

Our cardiothoracic surgeons, endocrine surgeon and infectious disease specialist offer a wide range of care close to home. Conditions we treat include:

• Appendicitis
• Aortic aneurysm
• Arrhythmias
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Endocarditis (heart infection)
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Hernias
• HIV and AIDS
• Lung cancer 
• Mesothelioma 
• Thyroid diseases, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Valley fever

Our cardiothoracic surgeons, endocrine surgeon and infectious disease specialist provide many services, including:

• Appendectomy

• Aortic valve replacement surgery

• Coronary artery bypass surgery

• Gallbladder Surgery

• Heart surgery

• Heart valve surgery

• Infectious disease care

• Maze procedure

• Mitral valve replacement surgery

• Nissen fundoplication surgery

• Pacemaker and Watchman placement

• Robot-assisted surgery

• Thoracentesis

• Thoracic surgery

• Thyroid surgery

• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

• Ventricular assist device (VAD) placement  

• Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact a cardiologist for guidance. If symptoms are severe, or if you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room:

• Chest pressure or discomfort

• Heartbeat changes, such as fluttering or racing

• Shortness of breath

• Swelling in the legs or feet

• Unexplained fatigue

Infectious diseases can be caused by many different organisms, often referred to as germs, and most commonly result from infections with bacteria and viruses. Such diseases remain a significant cause of illness and death in our community, and there is a great deal of concern about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the re-emergence of viral illnesses once controlled by vaccination.

Our team focuses not only on providing high-level care for the individual but also on infection prevention, through hand hygiene and vaccine administration, and the judicious use of antibiotics in the community to limit the spread of drug-resistant bacteria.

Learn more about our infectious disease services

The condition occurs when one or more of your four parathyroid glands are too active. Parathyroids are tiny glands in the neck, behind the thyroid gland. When they’re too active, they make too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). This hormone helps control how much calcium is in your blood.

When a parathyroid gland makes too much PTH, the amount of calcium in your blood rises. Some of this calcium comes from your bones. That means that hyperparathyroidism can lead to weak bones and a greater risk of fractures. The extra calcium in the blood can also lead to kidney stones and other health problems.

Before your visit or a procedure, we recommend verifying your insurance coverage directly with your provider to confirm eligibility, benefits and potential out-of-pocket costs. 

Our billing department is also available to provide general guidance and support. If you need assistance or have specific questions about billing or insurance, please contact your insurance company or the hospital or clinic where you receive care. Your health and peace of mind are our priority, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.

At Cardiothoracic Surgery & Specialty Care - Dignity Health Medical Group - Bakersfield, we offer a multilingual phone line to assist all non-English-speaking patients. This language and interpretation service is free of charge and available throughout the year.