Meriter Named One of Nation's 100 Top Hospitals

Meriter Hospital, the primary hospital at which Wisconsin Heart and Vascular Institute cardiologists practice, was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare.

The award recognizes hospitals that have achieved excellence in clinical outcomes, patient safety, patient satisfaction, financial performance, and operational efficiency. This is the first time Meriter has been recognized with this honor. Previously, Meriter received a “Performance Improvement Leaders” awards.

“It is with extreme pride that I accept this award on behalf of the entire Meriter team,” says Jim Woodward, Meriter president and CEO. “Meriter employees and our medical staff share a common focus - the patients we serve. This award recognizes everything from the quality and safety of our bedside care to the systems and processes that support our patient care providers. Meriter has been at the heart of this community for 112 years, fulfilling our mission to heal, to teach, to serve.”

Meriter Hospital provides a wide-ranging scope of medical and surgical services. It features centralized cardiovascular services within the Meriter Heart and Vascular Hospital; the second highest birthing unit in the state; family-focused, award-winning Newborn Intensive Care Unit; patient-focused Emergency Services; a full array of orthopedic surgical services and the region’s only Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital.

The winners were identified through an in-depth analysis, the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals®: National Benchmarks study. The study evaluated 3,000 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals in nine areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, cash-to-debt ratio, patient satisfaction, and adherence to clinical standards of care.

Meriter Heart Hospital Recognized for Excellent Heart Care Standards

Meriter Hospital, was featured in an advertisement in US News & World Report’s July 2009 issue, “America’s Best Hospitals.” The ad, by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, commemorates the receipt of a Get With The Guidelines Performance Achievement Award. A total of 570 hospitals are being recognized nationwide with Gold or Silver awards for achievement in coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and/or heart failure treatment. Meriter has received a Gold award for sustained performance of CAD treatment - the only hospital in Madison to achieve this recognition.

“Meriter is dedicated to making our cardiac unit among the best in the country,” said Linda Wonoski, Nurse Manager of the Meriter Heart Hospital. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care.”

To receive the Get With The Guidelines (GWTG)-CAD Gold Performance Achievement Award, Meriter consistently followed the American Heart Association’s recommended treatment guidelines for coronary patients for 24 consecutive months. The Gold CAD award joins another GWTG designation Meriter holds – Bronze recognition for stroke treatment.

Get With The Guidelines^SM is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program. By promoting the latest evidence-based treatment for patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure or stroke; GWTG turns guidelines into lifelines. Currently more than 1,450 hospitals participate in the program.

Wisconsin Heart & Vascular Institute’s New Location

We are pleased to announce that we have relocated our Madison clinic to the Arbor Gate development at 2601 West Beltline Highway. The new location is easily accessible from the central Beltline at the Todd Drive exit.

Important note: in the Madison area, emergency services for our patients are provided at the Meriter Hospital emergency room, which includes the area's only accredited Chest Pain Center. If you have a heart or vascular emergency in Madison during or after normal clinic hours, call 911 and go directly to Meriter Hospital.

Our group began in 2001 with eight cardiologists practicing in space on the Meriter Hospital Campus and has grown to include 12 cardiologists, two vascular surgeons and five mid-level providers, requiring additional space.

The Arbor Gate site has allowed us to relocate our clinical and administrative operations to better serve our patients and continue providing the latest in cardiovascular diagnosis and treatment. All of the regular cardiovascular exams and tests provided at our previous location are now performed at the new clinic. We will continue to serve patients as we do now in Madison and at 11 locations throughout south-central Wisconsin, allowing people to receive cardiovascular care close to where they live. When hospital-based care is required we will continue to care for patients at their local community hospitals. For advanced care not available in the region, or for people who live in or near Madison and require hospital care, our physicians will provide services at the Meriter Heart Hospital.

Click here for Madison area map
Click here for Arbor Gate map and directions