Watertown Regional Medical Center Expands Emergency Cardiac Care

Watertown, WI – Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) is chest pain accredited by the American College of Cardiology and now has all of the pieces in place, including cardiologists and specialty staff, to offer around-the-clock emergency treatment for patients experiencing chest pain and other heart-related emergencies.

“WRMC has had the ability to stabilize and provide quality care for patients suffering from a heart attack,” said Richard Keddington, CEO of Watertown Regional Medical Center. “Now we are able to treat these patients in-house, no matter when they arrive, instead of transferring them to another healthcare system.”

The medical term for a heart attack is a STEMI and 24/7 STEMI care isn’t available at every hospital. In fact, out of the seven hospitals within a 20 mile radius of Watertown, WRMC is now just the second hospital to offer 24/7 STEMI care.

“The expanded heart-related services at WRMC allows us to get patients the care they need quicker,” said Kraig Biefeld, Watertown Fire and EMS Chief. “This will lead to better outcomes for the citizens of Watertown and the surrounding communities and keep them closer to home and their loved ones.”

The change to 24/7 STEMI coverage has already taken effect. If you or a loved-one is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, Watertown EMS and Watertown Regional Medical Center encourage you to call 9-1-1 immediately. Symptoms of a heart attack may vary, but often include chest discomfort, discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach, and shortness of breath.

In preparation for this transition, WRMC added two interventional cardiologists to their staff. Dr. Paul Volkert and Dr. Issam Al-Bitar recently joined the Heart & Vascular team consisting of Dr. Fahad Iqbal, Dr. Salim Shammo, and Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner Heather Raatz.

Patients who receive emergency heart care at Watertown Regional Medical Center can receive follow-up care at the Heart & Vascular clinic located inside WRMC. The Heart & Vascular clinic offers a comprehensive approach to heart care, including testing, treatment, monitoring, and education.

About Watertown Regional Medical Center

Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) has been providing the residents of Dodge and Jefferson counties with excellent healthcare for over 100 years. By placing patients’ needs first, WRMC’s services have grown to include Emergency and Urgent Care, Primary Care, Women’s Health, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Heart and Vascular, Neurology, Pulmonology, Ophthalmology, Mental & Behavioral Health and many other services. For more information and to see a complete list of the services offered, visit www.watertownregional.com.