Photos Courtesy of M Health Fairview
With more than 3,000 providers in 100-plus specialties, M Health Fairview has proudly served the St. Paul area, the Twin Cities region, and Minnesota for more than 160 years. The health care system remains deeply committed to the people and communities its many facilities serve and its mission to bring breakthrough medicine to all Minnesotans.
M Health Fairview is evolving to better meet the needs of growing communities to make health care not only simpler but more affordable, accessible, and equitable. Across the Twin Cities, they are reinvesting in their hospitals and clinics and reimagining how to serve the people of Minnesota.
This vision also includes expanded access to primary and specialty care, continued technological innovation, and improved connections to leading-edge University of Minnesota-driven research—so that the latest medical advances are readily available to all patients. “Being affiliated with the University of Minnesota and having access to the latest technology, we have a spirit of collaboration that truly sets us apart,” says Dr. Marit Thorsgard, M.D., F.A.C.C., M Health Fairview interventional cardiologist.
St. Paul and the East Metro are a key part of M Health Fairview’s robust vision. M Health Fairview’s dozens of community-based primary care clinics in the East Metro bring together top experts and specialists under one roof, resulting in “one-stop-shop” convenience and same-day access to multiple services, such as expanded laboratory testing.
Each local clinic and specialty center is, in turn, closely connected to nearby acute-care hospitals in the East Metro, including M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood and M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury—bringing comprehensive, world-class care closer to the patients they serve.
“It is convenient care but does not compromise on quality,” says Dr. Mudassar Ahmed, M.D., M Health Fairview interventional cardiologist. “This is full-spectrum, one-stop care for any heart condition, right in your own backyard, with the highest quality of services and state-of-the-art technology.”
St. John’s Hospital is taking cardiovascular care further than ever, with a 19,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art expansion that includes two cardiac catheterization labs, two electrophysiology labs, and a hybrid catheterization lab for advanced cardiology procedures.
“Any time we are investing in more space to provide better care, that is a good thing for our patients,” says Dr. Rebecca Cogswell, M.D., N.N.P., associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota and M Health Fairview advanced heart failure cardiologist. “As our population ages and more people experience health issues, we are investing in forward-thinking services that will meet their needs.”
“The goal for us is to give the best care for patients that isn’t available in other institutions,” says Dr. Ganesh Raveendran, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota and M Health Fairview interventional cardiologist. If a patient needs a stent or heart valve replacement, for example, Raveendran says minimally invasive procedures—such as catheter-based—can be just as effective as traditional surgery (e.g., open-heart surgery). And eligible patients appreciate the reduced hospital stay (often same day or next day) and recovery time.
Photo by Insideout Studios
But health care doesn’t start or stop at hospitals or clinics. Many people also face barriers to health care, and it has been shown that nearly 80 percent of a person’s overall health is influenced by socioeconomic factors like job status, social supports, bills, and more. “The tone of our team is one of compassion and one that takes each individual into consideration,” says Cogswell. “We work to break down barriers for those needing care, no matter the situation they’re in. We go the extra mile to truly help our patients take better care of themselves, so they can live the best quality life.”
Through their expansive partnership with the University of Minnesota, along with new telemedicine technology, M Health Fairview patients outside the Twin Cities can also get rapid access to highly qualified specialists in heart care and other services—which results in even better care for people living in Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Wyoming, Princeton, and other areas outside the metro. The innovative M Health Fairview heart care team also serves patients at M Health Fairview Ridges, Southdale, and Woodwinds Hospitals, and M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center.
With growth comes change. And during this period of transformational change, patients can rest assured they will have access to the same top doctors, services, and commitment that
has earned M Health Fairview state-wide, national, and international recognition.
