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Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD

Accepting New Patients

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Specializes in: Cardiac Surgery

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine (1991)

Professional interests include: coronary artery disease, heart problems

62 W 7TH AVENUE SUITE 110
Spokane, WA 99204

(509) 456-0262

Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD is a cardiac surgeon in Spokane, WA specializing in cardiac surgery. He graduated from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine in 1991 and has 33 years of experience. Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD is affiliated with MultiCare.

Office Locations

Address:

62 W 7TH AVENUE SUITE 110
Spokane, WA 99204

Some issues Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD can help you with:

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It happens when the blood vessels carrying blood to the heart, called coronary arteries, narrow and harden. This occurs when cholesterol, a type of fat found in the blood, builds up to form plaque, which sticks to the inner walls of the arteries. As plaque accumulates, less blood can flow through the arteries, which may lead to the following:

Angina, which is chest pain that occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood flow.
Heart attack, which happens if the arteries leading to the heart are completely blocked.
Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which can develop if the heart does not have enough blood supply.
Heart failure, which may occur if a heart attack damages the heart and it becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Certain factors may increase risk for the disease, like smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. CAD tends to develop over decades, so it can go undetected until it has become quite severe. A diagnosis may be established using such tests as:

Electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the heart's electrical activity over a period of time. ECGs can detect whether there is enough blood flow to the heart or if a heart attack has occurred.
Echocardiogram (echo), which creates images of the heart using sound waves. Echos can show whether the heart is able to pump blood normally.
Stress tests, where an ECG or echo is combined with exercise, like riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. This test is done to find out if the heart can function properly while performing a strenuous activity.

Treatments for the disease include medications such as vasodilators, like nitroglycerin, which dilates (widens) the coronary arteries. CAD may also be treated by a procedure called angioplasty with stent placement, where a balloon is inflated inside a diseased artery to flatten the plaque deposits against the artery walls, creating more room for blood to flow.

In some severe cases of the disease, multiple arteries may be blocked, and an open heart surgery called coronary artery bypass surgery may be necessary. This operation transplants a vessel from another part of the body to form a graft that goes past the narrowed arteries, thus enabling blood to flow around those arteries.

Heart Problems

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.

Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.

Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.

Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.

bypass surgery	23
cardiac procedures	66
doctor visit	50
hospital care	16
inpatient care	16
open surgery	46
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	46

**Gender**
Male	74
Female	38

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	101
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	57
From 75 to 84	36
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	33
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	38
Diabetes	37
Dementia	13
Cancer	28

bypass surgery	20
cardiac procedures	60
doctor visit	68
hospital care	11
inpatient care	11
open surgery	40
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	40

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	40

**Age**
From 65 to 74	58
From 75 to 84	41
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	50
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	34
Heart Failure	66
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	33
Diabetes	46
Dementia	9
Cancer	20

doctor visit	54
hospital care	86
inpatient care	86

**Gender**
Male	120
Female	88

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	186
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	76
From 75 to 84	78
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	55
Asthma	23
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	36
Heart Failure	75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	43
Diabetes	49
Dementia	11
Cancer	28

bypass surgery	12
cardiac procedures	20
doctor visit	25
hospital care	59
inpatient care	59
open surgery	24
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	24

**Gender**
Male	53
Female	41

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	81
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	46
From 75 to 84	30
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	15
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	44
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	32
Heart Failure	68
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	43
Diabetes	49
Dementia	15
Cancer	22

doctor visit	39
hospital care	36
inpatient care	36

**Gender**
Male	43
Female	32

**Age**
From 65 to 74	35
From 75 to 84	23
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	69
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	35
Diabetes	52
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

bypass surgery	11
cardiac procedures	46
doctor visit	55
hospital care	48
inpatient care	48
minimally invasive procedures	13
open surgery	22
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	22
vascular procedures	13

**Gender**
Male	58
Female	32

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	73
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	35
From 75 to 84	31
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	57
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	29
Heart Failure	74
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	44
Diabetes	47
Dementia	12
Cancer	14

bypass surgery	12
cardiac procedures	42
doctor visit	34
hospital care	25
inpatient care	25
minimally invasive procedures	10
open surgery	24
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	24
vascular procedures	10

**Gender**
Male	55
Female	32

**Age**
From 65 to 74	29
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	68
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	33
Heart Failure	70
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	30
Diabetes	40
Dementia	21
Cancer	13

cardiac procedures	24
doctor visit	22
hospital care	31
inpatient care	31
minimally invasive procedures	14
vascular procedures	14

**Gender**
Male	42
Female	28

**Age**
From 65 to 74	22
From 75 to 84	27
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	69
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	39
Heart Failure	75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	53
Dementia	26
Cancer	23

bypass surgery	31
cardiac procedures	184
doctor visit	71
hospital care	17
inpatient care	17
minimally invasive procedures	62
open surgery	62
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	62
vascular procedures	62

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD treated as a cardiac surgeon in Spokane, WA were cardiac procedures, thoracic (chest) surgery procedures, open surgery and hospital care.

bypass surgery	18
cardiac procedures	64
doctor visit	47
hospital care	36
inpatient care	36
minimally invasive procedures	24
open surgery	36
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures	36
vascular procedures	24

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD.

**Gender**
Male	52
Female	33

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	44
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	30
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0
65 to 74	35

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD treated were high cholesterol, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heart failure.

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	46
Asthma	9
Osteoporosis	0
Heart Failure	55
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	37
Atrial Fibrillation	26
Cancer	14
Dementia	10

Education & Training

Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD graduated from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine in 1991. He has a state license in Washington.

Medical School: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine (1991)

Licensed In: Washington

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

MultiCare

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
KCI USA, Inc	$10,179 ACTIVAC $215	PREVENA $82	INFOVAC $60	VAC VERAFLO $28	$9,795
Abbott Laboratories	$8,303 HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Dev $3,592	Mitra Clip system $1,557	CardioMEMS HF System $1,241	Circulatory Support $1,123	HeartMate $252	Other $537
Thoratec Corporation	$6,343 HeartMate II $4,557	MCS Multiple Products General $1,469	CentriMag $210	MCS-Multiple Products-General $93	Thoratec Connect $13
On-x Life Technologies, Inc	$4,792 HEART VALVE $4,751	CHORD X $41
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation	$3,622 Transcatheter Heart Valves $1,415	Minimal Incision Valve Surgery $226	INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve $201	EDWARDS INTUITY Elite valve system $164	Other Tissue Valves $96	Other $1,519
Other	$12,271 On-X $2,020	HeartMate PHP $1,797	Cardiovascular $1,507	TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis $1,164	HeartWare Ventricular Assist System $399	Other $5,383

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$18,003
Travel and Lodging	$17,994
Consulting Fee	$9,062
Entertainment	$268
Education	$182

Research Payments

Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD has received 85 research payments totaling $214,817.

Biography

Dr. Dennis Nichols is a specialist in cardiac surgery. His clinical interests encompass coronary artery disease. Dr. Nichols is professionally affiliated with MultiCare. He is a graduate of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine. Doctor.com reports that Dr. Nichols is accepting new patients at his office in Spokane, WA.

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Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD

Office Locations

Some issues Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD can help you with:

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD in 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD in 2014

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD in 2015

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD in 2016

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD in 2017

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD in 2018

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD in 2019

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD in 2020

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Dennis Darrel Nichols, MD From 2013 - 2021

Education & Training

Affiliations & Hospitals

Ratings & Reviews

General Payments

Research Payments

Biography

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