When your doctor seems to think you have a condition that requires a specialist, he or she will…read morerefer you to a certain specialist. You have a choice, though. Always remember that you don't have to hire the doctor you were referred to. Milwaukee has been respected as a center for heart medicine for decades and there are several high quality cardiovascular centers in the area, all top-notch. That said, I was referred to CMH some years ago mostly for the convenience. By my choice, I remain under the care of the specialists here in the Heart and Vascular Center who are doing their best to keep my sludge pump working. It's a separate clinic, in its own wing, attached to the hospital. If you are referred here, you can expect a warm, welcoming environment. From the valet parking attendants to the physicians, and everyone in between, you will be treated by professionals with warm respect. I admit, it took awhile for some of them to get used to my strange sense of humor but by now, they all laugh along with me. Receptionists, schedulers, test techs, nurses, laboratory assistants, doctors, even the folks who mop the floor and empty the wastebaskets are all the very best at what they do. They are all dedicated to your comfort and care. Incidentally, CMH was recently ranked as one of the top 250 hospitals in the United States by an independent research firm. I can attest to that ranking.

From the owner: The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Menomonee Falls Hospital is a medical center…read moreoffering state-of-the-art care and specialized treatment plans. Located in Menomonee Falls, Wis., outside Milwaukee, Wis., Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and offers emergency care for stomach pain, back pain, chest pain, bleeding, seizures and more. Our health network believes that prevention, early detection and disease management are proven not only to reduce health care costs for patients, but more importantly improve health and quality of life.

Thanks to genetic testing, I learned I have a mutated gene that puts me at risk for pancreatic…read morecancer. This week I had my biannual MRI of my pancreas. I scheduled my MRI for early in the morning, 6:30am. I arrived at 6am right when they opened, 30 minutes early as requested. I was taken care of right away. I did have to chuckle at the clothing you are given to wear as no one asked my size. I believe it is meant to be one size fits all. The underwear and pants were snug while the gowns were loose. David and team did a great job letting me know what to expect and guiding me through the 45 minute experience. I enjoyed getting g to listen to my music of choice. I almost dozed off during the first twenty minutes! The lady 25 minutes were more interactive as I had to hold my breath repeatedly. I do wish I would have had them place a blanket on my calves/ankles as they got a bit cold but I had declined thinking I would be fine as I am often warm. I'll be going back in two years and will plan to schedule at St. Luke's again.

Scripted ignorance. I went in to get checked for severe neck pain. They ultimately did an MRI…read more and discovered my C4-C7 neck vertebrae were crushed against each other and there was no cartilage/cushion between them. I'm so happy they found the answer! Surgery is scheduled. 60 days away. But....I asked for some medication for the pain and the doctor doesn't believe I'm in pain and he said that the only way someone could be in pain is if they just came out of surgery. So I asked my other doctor at Aurora and he said the same EXACT thing without even looking at my MRI. Then I asked the nurse practitioner and she said the same EXACT thing. This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Obviously someone in upper management doesn't want them prescribing medication for people who are in pain without even looking at the medical reports or the MRI. They must think one size fits all. I can barely brush my teeth because my neck hurts so badly and they think I'm not in pain because somebody in upper management gave them some stupid talking script that (they think) fits all patients. If I could start over and go to Pro-Health, I would.

This doctor has been around some of the most frightening times I think I have ever had while being…read morein a hospital. He made me feel better after just talking to him. He has an incredible reputation and it is well deserved. I trust him.

It is tricky to seriously review someone you know to have saved your life. But I will forge ahead…read more I have had two cardiac procedures done by Dr. Grambow in the past 4 years; one, just a month ago. He is a good educator and unafraid to give important health messages. He has attracted and retained an excellent team to do procedures with him. They, too, are uniformly kind, courteous, and highly competent. Unfortunately, I have not found his offices to be as efficiently run as his surgeries. At both the south side and downtown offices, the staff range from interested and quietly competent to brusque, aloof, and pre-occupied. While I certainly wish that this would turn around -- hell, the guy saved my life!

I had an outstanding experience with Dr. Husam Balkhy and his entire team. From the initial…read moreevaluation through treatment and follow-up, I was consistently impressed by their expertise, professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine commitment to patient care. Dr. Balkhy is one of the few cardiac surgeons in the United States with extensive expertise in Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB), a highly specialized and minimally invasive robotic heart surgery technique. His exceptional experience in this field gave me tremendous confidence in my care. He took the time to carefully explain the treatment options, answer questions, and make sure I felt informed and comfortable throughout the process. His team was equally exceptional, professional, responsive, compassionate, and highly organized. I am extremely pleased with the care I received and truly grateful for the dedication and effort of Dr. Balkhy and his team. Their skill, communication, and patient-centered approach made a significant difference in my experience and recovery. I would highly recommend Dr. Husam Balkhy and his team to anyone seeking exceptional cardiac care, especially those considering advanced minimally invasive or robotic coronary bypass surgery.

My father went in for robotic double by-pass surgery on December 22, 2011. During the middle of…read morethe procedure, Dr Balkhy had to discontinue the robotic process and continue the surgery conventionally by cracking him open. It is now March and he is still suffering from multiple complications as a result of this process. Dr. Balkhy is no longer his doctor.

Dr. Lanzarotti and his team are awesome…read more Navigating the medical system can be tricky business and oftentimes you can end up with doctors, PAs and nurses that just don't care or don't take the time to fully explain things to you. When you bounce around between different departments and specialists, it can get all that much more confusing, too. (When you're sick or seeking medical attention, you probably have a lot of questions, and you deserve to have them answered.) I was referred here to rule out any cardiac issues/irregularities and am so happy I was - during my visit I spoke with the nurse, the office PA and Dr. Lanzarotti, all in one visit. They explained the next course of actions to me and more importantly, they explained the why behind those actions. TL;DR: if you're in the market for a cardiac specialist, I highly rec Dr. L + his team.

Don't trust your health with some of these doctors. Some are shady, uninformed, and dishonest…read more Some need more training. They don't care about their patients. The same goes for some nurses!! Please beware and careful