The Palm Beach Health Network (PBHN), the largest healthcare system in Palm Beach County, announced that Delray Medical Center and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center are the first hospitals in the county to acquire the OPAL HDx™ Mapping System, one of the latest technologies available to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib). The milestone comes as September marks AFib Awareness Month, reinforcing PBHN’s commitment to providing advanced, lifesaving care for patients living with heart rhythm disorders.

The OPAL HDx system integrates with the FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System and its FARAWAVE NAV Ablation Catheter to combine both mapping and ablation into a single streamlined procedure. This innovative approach allows physicians to visualize the heart’s electrical activity in real time, reduce the need for multiple catheter exchanges, and deliver highly targeted therapy while minimizing risk to surrounding tissues.

“Being the first health system in Palm Beach County to offer this advanced technology helps us remain at the forefront of cardiac care,” said Samantha Ing, Cardiovascular Service Line Administrator for Palm Beach Health Network. “The OPAL system provides our physicians with the tools to more efficiently and precisely treat AFib, improving safety and outcomes for our patients. We are proud to have this innovation in place just in time for AFib Awareness Month.”

About Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

AFib is the most common type of heart arrhythmia, affecting more than 7 million Americans and an estimated 38 million people worldwide. It occurs when the heart’s upper chambers beat irregularly, which can reduce efficiency, lead to blood clots, and increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other serious complications.

About the FARAPULSE PFA System

Unlike traditional thermal ablation, which uses extreme heat or cold, the FARAPULSE PFA System relies on non-thermal, tissue-selective electric fields. This approach targets only the problematic heart tissue while reducing potential damage to nearby structures, offering a safer alternative for patients with recurrent, symptomatic AFib.

With the addition of the OPAL HDx Mapping System at Delray Medical Center and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Palm Beach Health Network continues to expand its cardiovascular services and bring leading-edge innovations to the communities it serves.

About Palm Beach Health Network

The Palm Beach Health Network (PBHN), comprising six hospitals and care centers spanning Palm Beach County, is the largest healthcare network in Palm Beach County. Our hospitals, including Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center, and West Boca Medical Center, along with a large multi-specialty physician group, various ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient diagnostic facilities, is recognized for providing the highest quality healthcare, combining cutting-edge health services with patient-centric care. With the greatest longevity in the community, along with hospitals and care centers that span the entirety of Palm Beach County, more patients trust PBHN than any other in the region.