WOODSTOCK – A recently opened cardiac center at Mercy Health System in Woodstock could ease the financial burden of patients with heart issues.

The Mercy Regional Heart Center offers cardiac testing such as a nuclear stress test and echocardiogram in an outpatient setting, significantly lowering the cost of the procedures when compared to the same tests at a hospital, said Dr. Anil Khemani, the cardiologist who leads the staff at the new center.

Mercy also is in the process of preparing a similar heart center at its Harvard location, which could be open by the beginning of 2013.