Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiologists Offer Greater Local Access to Heart Care Services
WEST BEND, WI (Sept. 1, 2009) – Washington County area residents will have increased access to state-of-the-art heart care through the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiology Clinic at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
With the addition of a fourth cardiologist at the clinic September 15, Medical College cardiologists will provide a full-time presence in the community for interventional cardiology, general cardiology and electrophysiology services. Patients also have direct access when needed to cardiac services at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, an academic medical center, including heart catheterization, heart surgery and other specialized procedures.
Cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, heart failure and other conditions, is the leading cause of death in the United States and in Wisconsin.
“St. Joseph’s Hospital is excited to partner with Froedtert & The Medical College to bring heart specialists to our hospital. This is medical history for our community which, for the first time, will have the services of cardiologists here every day,” said Michael Laird, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital, which affiliated with Froedtert & Community Health in 2008.
The Medical College cardiologists include K. Afzal Ammar, MD; Marcie Berger, MD,
FACC; Michael Cinquegrani, MD, FACC, FSCAI; and James Kleczka, MD, FACC.
“With a full complement of cardiologists, we are able to provide a high level of cardiovascular care for people in the West Bend area here at the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiology Clinic at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Patients will benefit from quick and easy access to appointments, and seamless coordination of care when specialized procedures, such as cardiac catheterization, are required at Froedtert Hospital,” said Dr. Cinquegrani, who is director of the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Heart and Vascular Center.
In conjunction with other cardiologists from the Medical College, the four cardiologists provide inpatient consults and perform and interpret cardiac studies at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The cardiologists are taking referrals from and provide consultations for West Bend Clinic and other physicians. They utilize the radiology, lab and other resources at St. Joseph’s Hospital including the hospital’s nationally certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
K. Afzal Ammar, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, general cardiology and nuclear cardiology, with additional expertise in cardiac imaging using echocardiography, CT and MRI. He completed a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He has published on numerous aspects of cardiovascular disease. He will be at the Cardiology Clinic four days a week starting Sept. 15.
Marcie Berger, MD, FACC, is board-certified in cardiovascular diseases and cardiac electrophysiology and fellowship trained in electrophysiology (diagnosis and treatment of electrical problems of the heart) and cardiology. Her clinical interests include catheter-based treatments for atrial fibrillation and pacing therapies for congestive health failure. She performs pacemaker implants at St. Joseph’s Hospital and has been with the clinic since February.
Michael Cinquegrani, MD, FACC, FSCAI, brings expertise in cardiovascular diseases, congestive heart failure, coronary angioplasty, heart transplantation and interventional cardiology. He is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and Interventional cardiology.
James Kleczka, MD, FACC, is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine. His patient emphases are congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and cardiomyopathy. He is the medical director of Cardiology Inpatient Services and the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at Froedtert Hospital.
Dr. Cinquegrani and Dr. Kleczka joined the clinic in July.
To make an appointment with a cardiologist at the Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiology Clinic at St. Joseph’s Hospital, call 262-836-7300.
