Our Services
The Healthy Heart Center offers cardiology services, weight management, nutrition counseling and much more!
The CASA Pediatrics Healthy Heart Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease for pediatric and young adult patients. We pride ourselves on providing excellent care and making the patient and family feel comfortable during the visit. We know that visiting a pediatric cardiologist can be stressful, so our dedicated staff takes extra care and attention to making sure the patient and family are comfortable. It is our goal to provide the best in pediatric cardiac care to our patients and educate the entire family. The Healthy Heart Center is directed by Dr. Wali Gauvin who is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist.
Services we provide:
Electrocardiograms (EKG)
Echocardiograms (Cardiac Ultrasound)
Cardiac Event Monitoring
Sports Clearance
Medication Clearance
Weight Management
Nutrition Counseling
Preventive Cardiology
Conditions we treat:
Arrhythmia (Abnormal Heart Rhythm)
Heart Murmur
Long QT Syndrome
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Chest Pain
Heart Palpitations
Congenital Heart Defects
Syncope (Passing Out)
Hyperlipidemia
Congenital Heart Defects
Kawasaki Disease
You don’t have to be an established CASA
Pediatrics patient to be seen at the Healthy Heart Center
Who needs to see a pediatric cardiologist?
A patient may be referred to a pediatric cardiologist for a variety of reasons, including:
- Concerning physical exam findings such as heart murmurs, elevated blood pressure, or bluish-purple hue to the skin (cyanosis)
- Family history of a parent or sibling with congenital heart disease or sudden death at a young age
- Symptoms of dizziness, fainting, chest pain, heart palpitations or difficulty breathing
- Abnormal heart rate – slow, rapid or irregular
- Abnormal lab results such as elevated cholesterol or triglycerides
- Suspected or known disease that may impact the heart such as Marfan’s syndrome or Kawasaki Disease
- Ultrasound abnormality during pregnancy
What You Can Expect
Having your child be referred to a cardiologist can be a stressful experience. At CASA Pediatrics Healthy Heart Center we do everything possible to help you and your family feel confident, safe and comfortable throughout your visit.
Arrival and Check-In
When you arrive at CASA Pediatrics, you will be greeted by our friendly staff. Please check in at the front desk. Our waiting room always has a children’s movie playing to make kids feel comfortable. Older children or teens may prefer to bring their phones or tablets to play games and watch shows.
Vital Signs and Initial Assessment
When it’s your child’s turn, a staff member will get you from the waiting room. We’ll check your child’s weight, height, blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and pulse oximeter – a small device that lightly clamps to your child’s finger to test how well oxygen is flowing through their body.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Some children will need a specialized test called an electrocardiogram to check the rhythm of the heart. You may also hear us refer to this test as an EKG. During this test, your child will lie on an exam table and we will put special stickers on their chest, arms and legs. We then connect “leads,” or wires to the stickers. Your child will have to lay still for a few seconds while we capture the rhythm of your child’s heart. The stickers are then removed. This test is quick and painless.
Echocardiogram (ECHO)
Some visits also include an echocardiogram, a test to see the structure and function of your child’s heart. Your child will lie on an exam table and the doctor will sit in a chair next to them. They will use a machine that is connected to a “wand”. The doctor will put clear gel on the skin around your child’s heart and put the wand in the gel. The wand acts like a camera that sees through your child’s skin to view their heart and lungs. The doctor will then take pictures to review. This test is also painless.
Checkout
When your child’s visit is complete the cardiologist will review and discuss your child’s test results. Your child’s primary physician will receive a visit summary to ensure continuity of care and the doctor will inform if your child requires a follow up visit.
Why Choose Us?
Dr. Wali Gauvin, affectionately called “Dr. G”, is dedicated to the treatment of heart disease in children. Dr. Gauvin is board certified in pediatric cardiology and stays up to date with the latest medical innovations and breakthroughs in the field. His goal is to deliver the best possible care in a personal and meaningful way to each and every infant, child, and young adult that he treats. He values his relationship with you, your child, and your referring physician. In addition, Dr. G is fluent in Spanish which allows him to communicate effectively with all his patients and ensure they are comfortable and understand at every step of the way.
Dr. Gauvin is passionate about preventive cardiology. He helps to identify and treat risk factors, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as encourage healthy eating habits and exercise in children. He takes a holistic approach to treating each patient and works closely with your child’s primary healthcare
Refer A Patient
Thank you for referring your patient to CASA Pediatrics Healthy Heart Center. The pediatric team at CASA Pediatrics Healthy Heart Center value the relationships we have with our referring physicians and welcome any feedback or comments you may have regarding our practice. We take care to reinforce your role as your patient’s primary care physician and our role as a cardiac consultant.
For your convenience you can either call us at 703-485-0470
CASA Pediatrics Healthy Heart Center offers comprehensive pediatric cardiac care. We want your experience with us to be a positive one. We will treat your child with the compassionate, personalized care that every child deserves. Our goal is to make your visit as convenient and stress-free as possible. We aim to see your child as quickly and expediently as possible, and relieve any worries or concerns to the best of our ability.
A Good Reason to visit us
So visit us regularly and make your kids stay healthy.
