MADISON, WI – UnityPoint Health – Meriter today announced the opening of its new Cardiac Procedure Unit, a facility designed to deliver faster, more personalized cardiac care for Dane County residents.
This unit will now serve as the primary destination for specialized cardiac procedures — including Transesophageal Echocardiograms (TEEs), loop recorder insertions, and cardioversions — for Meriter and UW Health patients through an innovative care model made possible by Meriter’s Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) with UW Health. Serving both inpatient and outpatient needs, the dedicated unit plays a critical role in supporting timely inpatient care and reducing overall hospital length of stay, particularly for patients requiring TEEs.
The specialized unit reimagines the traditional patient experience by introducing a “one-to-one” continuity of care workflow. From check-in and vitals to post-procedure recovery, patients remain with the same care team member throughout their entire visit.
This streamlined approach allows Advanced Practice Providers—including Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs)—to practice at the top of their licensure while creating a seamless, supportive environment for patients.
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“This is truly a groundbreaking process for our organization and a major step forward for cardiac care in our region,” said Trish Siler, director of critical care and interventional services at Meriter. “By combining the shared values and strengths of Meriter and UW Health through our joint partnership, we’ve built a specialized, highly efficient unit that puts patient comfort and clinical excellence at the forefront.”
The new unit addresses a critical need in the community by providing relief to patient wait times—both in scheduling procedures and total time spent in the facility. Previously, patients often waited two to three months to be scheduled but can now receive care in about two weeks. Additionally, the average total time patients spend on the unit during a visit has been reduced from four-plus hours to just over two hours.
With the creation of a dedicated unit for these procedures, providers can now care for 80–90 patients per month, up from a previous capacity of 40–50 patients per month.
Procedures in the unit began on July 29.
