COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A new center to diagnose and treat military veterans with all types of vascular and heart diseases is opening in South Carolina.

A new cardiology center is opening Friday at the Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia.

The center has a cardiology division, a unit for exercise stress testing and echocardiography and vascular ultrasound laboratories. VA officials say there are five full-time and three part-time cardiologists working in the division.

More than 50 physician assistants, nurses and administrative support staff are also part of the unit.

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