Heart physicians at the University of Minnesota are now part of an even larger network of cardiovascular experts.
On October 1‚ University of Minnesota Physicians—the physician practice group for the University’s Medical School faculty members—and Edina-based Minnesota Heart Clinic merged their cardiology programs and‚ together with Fairview Health Services‚ are creating a new‚ integrated cardiovascular program.
It’s a high-profile partnership. The University of Minnesota Medical Center‚ Fairview is rated in the top 50 hospitals nationally for heart and heart surgery on U.S. News and World Report’s 2008 “Best Hospitals” list‚ and Minnesota Heart Clinic and Fairview Southdale Hospital are rated No. 1 in Minnesota this year in cardiology and cardiac care by HealthGrades‚ an independent health-care ratings organization.
Bringing community and academic doctors together through the merger creates one of the largest cardiology programs in the state.
“Patients will benefit most from this awardwinning collaboration‚” says Daniel J. Garry, M.D., Ph.D., the Medical School’s cardiology chief and Lillehei Heart Institute executive director. “They will have access to the latest research innovations as they are applied directly to care.”
The merger also moves the three organizations toward a long-term vision for leading-edge patient services that aim to transform how cardiovascular care is delivered to patients throughout the region.
