Heart and Vascular Institute of Wisconsin

12/23/2025

So that our employees can enjoy some time with their families, please note that the Heart and Vascular Institute of Wisconsin offices will be closed on the following days during this holiday season.

- Wednesday, December 24th starting at noon
- Thursday, December 25th all day
- Thursday, January 1st all day

As usual, we will be seeing patients in the area Ascension and ThedaCare hospitals every day and have a physician on call for emergencies. If you are having symptoms, please call 911 and get to an emergency room.

Have a safe, joyful and healthy holidays!

12/19/2025

Be Aware of Holiday Heart Syndrome

According to Heart and Vascular Institute electrophysiology cardiologist Dr. Daniel Nelson, “Holiday heart syndrome is mostly linked with excessive alcohol consumption and other risk factors that occur this time of year. However, it isn’t only drinking that can affect the heart negatively during the holidays. Other contributing factors include an increase in sugar and salt intake that come from over-eating and consuming foods that are harder for the body to metabolize. The holidays can also result in increased stress and depression, affecting cortisol levels in the blood.

The most worrisome complication of holiday heart syndrome is Atrial Fibrillation (Afib). Studies have shown that for every 10 grams of alcohol you consume, you run a 5% higher risk of experiencing AFib. Fortunately, in most instances the irregular heartbeat of Afib resolves on its own within a few days but can last much longer. It’s important to keep in mind that any form of Afib, even if temporary, increases your risk of a stroke.

If you want to minimize the potential of holiday heart syndrome you should do the following:
• Avoid drinking alcohol altogether or try never to consume large amounts in a short period of time.
• Continue taking your medications, especially any meds for your heart or high blood pressure.
• Practice relaxation techniques and prioritize self-care to minimize stress.
• Monitor your heart health and look for symptoms such as an irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath.
• Stay active with regular physical activity.
• Practice good sleep habits.

The holidays can be a dangerous time for your heart. If you are having symptoms, be safe and go see a physician or head to the ER. “

12/04/2025

Apologies to our patients

We have been having problems with our phone system (3CX) for the past few days. Sometimes an incoming call can be answered but we cannot hear the caller or we answer a call and the person calling cannot hear us. The most significant issue occured this past Monday when our phone system was down for 6 hours.

We have replaced our phones, rebooted the 3CX system and installed a new internet provider (since like many corporate phone systems these days, 3CX is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system that uses an internet connection to make and receive calls instead of traditional landlines.

Our IT partner (Ideal Technologies) is working to resolve these issues and we still are have some lingering issues.

Thank you for being patient with us. We will do what it takes to find a permanent fix.

Larry Sobal, CEO
Heart and Vascular Institute of Wisconsin

10/14/2025

We Are Back In Network With UnitedHealthcare Insuranced Patients!

Today, Ascension and UnitedHeathcare announced that they have reached a contractual agreement, ending their 14-day dispute.

As we reported last week, the Heart and Vascular Institute has an arrangement with Ascension so that we function under their insurance contracts. Therefore, on October 1st when the contract between Ascension and United was not renewed, the Heart Institute temporarily was out of network for United Patients.

Fortunately, the conttract between Ascension and United has been renewed. In addition, the contract will consider all patient encounters going back to October 1st as in-network.

With today's announcement you no longer need to submit any continuity or care applications.

We would like to extend our thanks to our patients for being understanding that HVI was caught in the middle of this dispute. Of course, we also thank Ascension and United for reaching agreement so we can go back to treating United patients!

The new contract between Ascension Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare was announced on Oct. 14 and is effective immediately.

10/07/2025

To All Heart and Vascular Institute of Wisconsin Patients With UnitedHealthcare Insurance

On October 1st, the contract between Ascension Health and UnitedHealthcare expired and has, as of October 7th, not been renewed.

Because the Heart and Vascular Institute functions under Ascension's insurance contracts, this dispute means that Heart and Vascular Institue is out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare insured patients.

We will continue to monitor this situation and report if the two sides can get together and reach agreement.

If you are a UnitedHealthcare insured member, you should call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and get clear instructions regarding how to proceed with your heart care with us.

In many instances, UnitedHealthcare will approve "continuity of care" so that you can continue to receive care from any of our physicians at our locations in Appleton, Chilton and Oshkosh. We have already received approval from United for continued care for many patients. Note that the approval for continuity care care is made by United and can take up to 15 days.

We are frustrated that you and us are caught in the middle of this dispute. It's important for you to know that although we are (hopefully termporarily) out of network with United, you are still are patients and we are available to answer your calls about your clinical symptoms, refill prescriptions, etc.

Ascension Wisconsin hospitals and providers are no longer in-network for people with UnitedHealthcare coverage. Here's what to know about the issue.

09/30/2025

Each year on World Heart Day (29th of September) the World Heart Federation unites its global network to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The goal is to prevent millions of premature deaths and urge governments to prioritize equitable heart health.

The World Heart Day message this year is "Don't Miss A Beat". The mission remains as urgent as ever because heart disease remains the number one killer in the United States and across the world. Sadly, 1 in 5 people will die prematurely from heart disease.

This campaign emphasizes that individuals in their 40s, when their metabolism slows and the impact of diet and lifestyle becomes more evident, should make heart-healthy choices to add years to their lives.

But whatever your age, you should be proactive about your heart health by making healthy choices and seeking timely medical attention when needed.

07/29/2025

Thank you, voters!

Once again, we are honored to have been voted by the community as the Best Cardiology Clinic/Hospital in both the 2025 Post Crescent Best of the Valley and Oshkosh Northwestern Best of Winnebago County contests.

Cardiovascular disease remains America's #1 killer, and we will continue to do our best to provide excellent care to the tens of thousands of patients who entrust us help them battle the wide array of cardiovascular conditions.

On behalf of all the Physicians and Associates at the Heart and Vascular Institute of Wisconsin locations, thank you for your support!

07/24/2025

We are very proud of Heart and Vascular Institute cardiologist Dr. Carrie Chapman. She was recently awarded the Amazing Angel award by Ascension Health. She was nominated by a patient who she helped through a challenging clinical scenario. You can watch the news segment that highlights the award ceremony.

Congratulations Dr. Chapman!

APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – A heart attack survivor found a special way to show his appreciation for one of the doctors who helped him. Back in February, Jim Hansen had a heart attack near the baggage claim at the Appleton International Airport. The quick actions of a bystander who knew CPR saved his ...

07/16/2025

Recently the Fox Valley Humane Society put out a notice they were low on food supplies for their animals. That's when Melissa Gibbs-the Heart and Vascular Clinic Manager -sprang into action to organize a food drive with her coworkers.

The end result was hundreds of pounds of dog and cat food being delivered today to the Humane Society!

A great job by everyone who contributed!

Pictured are Melissa on the left and Sheri Krueger (Director of Cardiovascular Services) on the right.

05/06/2025

We would be honored if you voted for us in the area newspaper "Best Of" contests.

Once again, the newspapers in Appleton, Green Bay and Oshkosh are holding their annual "Best Of" contests and once again the Heart and Vascular Institute of Wisconsin has been nominated in a variety of categories.

Please consider logging into the links below to cast your vote for us. You can vote once each day and the contest runs through Thursday, May 15th.

You can find us in the Health and Beauty category under Best Cardiology Clinic. In Oshkosh, we are also nominated for Best Hospital.

1. For Appleton open this link and go the Beauty and Health section and vote for HVI in the Cardiology Clinic category: https://postcrescent.gannettcontests.com/2025-Best-of-the-Valley-WI-Communitys-Choice-Awards/gallery?group=514172

2. For Oshkosh, open this link and vote for HVI in both the Cardiology/Clinic and Hospital/Medical Center categories: https://thenorthwestern.gannettcontests.com/2025-Best-of-Winnebago-Communitys-Choice-Awards/

3. For Green Bay, open this link and go to the Beauty and Health section and vote for HVI in the Cardiology Clinic category: https://greenbaypressgazette.gannettcontests.com/2025-Best-of-the-Bay-WI-Communitys-Choice-Awards/

You are eligible to win $250 if you cast votes across many categories.

Thank you for your consideration.

Vote for the top nominees in each category and be entered to win a $250 gift card!

02/25/2025

Digesting The Relationship Between Food And Cardiovascular Disease

It's very common for patients to ask me what they should be eating. After all, people are constantly bombarded with food advertisements as well as headlines touting the value of intermittent fasting, mediterranean eating, DASH, Keto, and many others. It can be overwhelming.

While following a specific diet can be healthful for some, I feel a better approach is to adopt a heart healthy philosophy to eating that emphasizes the foods that are best to put into your body while minimizing those foods that are known to increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Foods to avoid include processed meats, red meat, high-fat dairy, fried foods, refined grains, alcohol and most packaged foods. It's not realistic for most people to completely eliminate consumption of these foods. Instead, a heart healthy mindset means that you understand the negative impact they have on your future health and seek out better alternatives.

What are better alternatives and how do you incorporate them into daily living? Here are a few tips:

#1 - Go easy on seasonings to limit salt intake
#2 - Incorporate healthy fats such as olive oil, salmon and avocados
#3 - Build your meals around a variety of fresh fruits and veggies
#4 - Increase fiber intake by using oats, whole grains and beans
#5 - Stick to lean proteins such as unprocessed chicken, turkey, salmon and tuna
#6 - Stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking water, unsweetened beverages, or having coffee and tea without sugary and fatty additives
#7 - Drink alcohol sparingly

If you want to follow a more specific dietary model, the Mediterranean, DASH, and vegetarian diets have the most clinical evidence for preventing (or slowing the impact of) cardiovascular disease.

And here's an added benefit of adopting a heart-healthy eating mindset, evidence shows that it can also reduce your risk of cancer.

I hope you've enjoyed these postings during Heart Month.

Nene Ugoeke, MD
Interventional Cardiologist

02/20/2025

Happy Valventines Day!

In case you are wondering, that is not a typo in the title. That's because this Saturday, February 22nd is Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, otherwise known as "Valventines Day". Thus, heart valve disease will be the topic this week.

Your heart has 4 valves - tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic and each plays a vital role. Heart valve disease occurs when the valves don't open or close correctly and therefore can't adequately control blood flow and direction. The causes of heart valve disease can be caused by a number of issues including congenital defects, infections, age-related deterioration, weakened heart tissue or other causes such as trauma, radiation/chemotherapy, and even some medications.

The most common heart valve issue is Aortic Stenosis, when your aortic valve does open properly and restricts blood flow from the heart to the aorta and the rest of your body. This is a serious condition and can lead to heart failure. It's estimated that 13% of Americans aged 75 and older have aortic stenosis but younger people can have aortic stenosis with no or mild symptoms. You can use this Aortic Stenosis Symptom Tracker if you suspect this for yourself or a loved one.

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Treatments for aortic stenosis will vary based on the severity of the disease along with the patient's age and health status and range from medical management to replacing the valve itself. Aortic valve replacement can occur via open heart surgery, where your existing valve is removed, and a new biological or mechanical valve is implanted in its place. Or a cardiologist can perform a less invasive procedure by threading a biologic valve up to your heart through a blood vessel and expanding it in place within your old valve. Each aortic stenosis patient is carefully evaluated to determine which of these treatments are best for them.

Next week, my last of 4 postings for Heart Month, will address the role of diet and nutrition in heart issues.

Until then,

Nene Ugoeke, MD
Interventional Cardiologist