Minneapolis Heart Institute® and Ridgeview Medical Center Partner to Bring Specialized Cardiovascular Care to the West Metro Area
MINNEAPOLIS 09/20/2007--The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Ridgeview Medical Center have signed a long-term agreement to provide enhanced cardiovascular care in the west metro.
The new, formal partnership--Minneapolis Heart Institute at Ridgeview Heart Center--strengthens an existing relationship between the two health care providers. Over the last 25 years, cardiologists from the Minneapolis Heart Institute have seen patients at Ridgeview Medical Center and its associated clinics.
Now, cardiologists from the Minneapolis Heart Institute will have a full-time, in-hospital presence at Ridgeview, providing inpatient cardiology consultations, outpatient consultations and cardiac imaging. In the near future the services will expand to diagnostic coronary angiograms and interventional therapies.
With this partnership, patients will have access to specialty care that is typically not available at a hospital of Ridgeview’s size. The new 11,000-square foot Ridgeview Heart Center will include diagnostic technology, stress test areas and a catheterization lab built to mimic those found at Minneapolis Heart Institute. By the end of the year, the experienced staff from the Minneapolis Heart Institute will begin performing procedures within the catheterization lab.
"The Minneapolis Heart Institute at Ridgeview Heart Center is uniquely positioned to meet the growing cardiovascular care needs of patients in Waconia and the surrounding west-metro communities," said Kevin Graham, MD, president of the Minneapolis Heart Institute. "Patients recognize Ridgeview for medical excellence and extraordinary customer service, and the Minneapolis Heart Institute is one of the top cardiovascular care centers in the country. Together, we will bring the highest quality of care in several specialty areas to patients in the west metro.”
According to Robert Stevens, president and CEO of Ridgeview Medical Center, the goal of expanding services in the west metro is to make it easier for the area's increasing population to access world class cardiovascular care. “As a health care organization, we have a duty to respond to the growing health care needs of residents in the west metro. The Heart Center and catheterization lab will allow patients to be treated closer to their homes, families and primary care physicians.”
Luis Pagan-Carlo, MD, a Minneapolis Heart Institute cardiologist, will serve as the Heart Center medical director and oversee a medical team that will include Ridgeview and Minneapolis Heart Institute staff, physicians, nurses and technicians.
The Minneapolis Heart Institute is recognized as one of the world's leading heart institutes. In U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of America’s medical centers, Abbott Northwestern ranked No. 28 for heart care and surgery out of the 5,462 hospitals evaluated and received the 2007 HealthGrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award. Its facility combines the finest in personalized patient care with sophisticated technology in a unique, family-oriented environment. The Institute's programs address the full range of heart-health needs: prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. The Minneapolis Heart Institute can be found online at www.mplsheart.com.
Ridgeview Medical Center is an independent, regional health care network serving the west metro area. Its network includes the Waconia-based acute care hospital, a multitude of primary and specialty care clinics, emergency services and specialty programs. For more information on Ridgeview Medical Center and its clinics, visit www.ridgeviewmedical.org.
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About Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Minneapolis-based Abbott Northwestern Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health care services. Abbott Northwestern is found online at www.abbottnorthwestern.com.
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