The Herma Heart Institute at Children’s Wisconsin is the largest pediatric cardiac care center in the state and is ranked as one of the best in the nation for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery.
Cutting-edge heart care in the heart of the Midwest
About us | Our patients and volumes | Heart surgery | Cardiac Intensive Care Unit | Heart Transplant | Cardiac catheterization | Electrophysiology Program | Fetal Heart Program | Specialized care | Follow-up care | Research and Innovation | Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program | Wraparound care | Our leadership
Our patients and volumes
Seven different countries, 42 different states
- 240 heart transplants to date
- 600+ heart procedures a year
- 10,000+ patients treated annually
- 20,000+ cardiac tests performed a year
- 430+ visits to our fetal heart program a year
- 2,700+ ACHD patients followed
Based on 2019 data unless otherwise noted
Heart surgery
We continue to place among the highest-volume congenital heart surgery programs in the country. This is critical given that research shows higher volumes lead to better outcomes.
Specialized care every step of the way
We are one of the few pediatric hospitals in the country with a team of pediatric fellowship-trained anesthesiologists.
Before and after surgery, our patients receive care in our highly specialized 24-bed CICU, overseen by board-certified intensive care specialists with additional expertise in cardiac intensive care.
A leader in pediatric heart transplant
We have performed 240 pediatric and adult heart transplants since 1991. We are able to offer several specialty services to care for the most complex cases, including:
- Ability to care for antibody-sensitized patients
- Expertise in ABO-incompatible heart transplants
- Mechanical heart support options, including VADs
In the past few years, we have made numerous advancements, including:
- A new blood test to detect rejection
- A new MRI-validated technique for size matching
- The nation’s first cardiac Developmental Follow-Up Program
- Using a Berlin Heart as a total artificial heart as a bridge to transplant
- First use of a mobile Berlin Heart in the United States
Cardiac Catheterization
Our interventional cardiologists perform more than 500 caths a year.
With our state-of-the-art hybrid cath lab, we can plan two or more combined procedures in a single trip to the operating room.
We work tirelessly to bring the latest innovations to our lab. We were one of the first programs in the country — and first in the Midwest — to be trained on a new transcatheter approach for PDAs.
We will expand to a second cath lab with cutting-edge equipment in 2021, allowing us to meet the growing needs of our patients.
Electrophysiology Program
Our program is the largest in the state, with roughly 100 procedures a year for children and adults. With a dedicated phone line for ICD patients, we can triage patients quickly, sometimes saving a family a trip to our clinic.
With the creation of Project ADAM in 1999, we’ve been able to improve cardiac responsiveness in schools to prevent sudden cardiac death. To date, we have 27 affiliate programs across the country, and together we have saved 200 lives.
Fetal Heart Program
We see about 300 pregnant women in our clinic a year. With our co-located high-risk birth center, we ensure mom and baby can stay close after delivery.
Among our services, we offer fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG), available at only a handful of centers around the world. This state-of-the-art tool is able to diagnose fetal heart rhythm abnormalities more accurately than fetal echo.
Specialized care
Pulmonary Hypertension Program
We’re one of only eight pediatric centers in the United States to be designated a Center of Comprehensive Care by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
This is awarded to programs that have demonstrated a comprehensive approach to managing PH patients. Accredited Care Centers also contribute to the association’s national patient registry to track patient outcomes and help establish best practices in patient care.
Marfan Syndrome Program
We are the largest in the state, recognized nationally for expertise in caring for children and adults with this and other rare connective tissue disorders.
Together with colleagues in orthopedics, genetics and other subspecialties, we are equipped to care for the complex needs of this patient population.
Advanced diagnostics
We are proud to offer a robust array of diagnostic tools, including:
- Cardiac MRI
- Cardiac CT
- Echocardiography, including 3-D echo, fetal echo, transthoracic echo, transesophageal echo
- Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG)
- Tele-echocardiography
We are also a designated CORE research lab, supporting large multi-institute research projects from across the country.
Heart Failure Program
Our team takes advantage of the vast experience in the Herma Heart Institute and throughout the hospital to provide care for adults and children with congenital heart disease. As part of that, we have several specialty areas, including neuromuscular disorders, cardiomyopathy and our Fontan Survivorship Program.
Follow-up care
A leader in developmental follow-up care
We were the first pediatric cardiac program in the country to offer routine developmental follow-up for surgical patients — five years before the American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics officially recommended such programs.
Our team of developmental professionals includes two dedicated psychologists who work closely with families to monitor their child’s development and maximize quality of life.
Our patients feel better when “Steppin’ Up”
Our cardiac physical activity program was developed following our pilot research study, in which children with Fontan circulation significantly improved their ability to exercise after finishing the program.
Over the course of the yearlong program, Steppin’ It Up helps our patients develop skills they need to safely participate in physical activity, improve self-confidence and ultimately address the related anxieties connected to their heart condition.
Serving our patients in the classroom, too
To ensure our patients and their families have access to the support and resources they need to reach their full potential, we developed our School Intervention Program, available to children from kindergarten through college.
Our School Intervention Program specialists assess the patient’s school needs and goals and serve as a liaison between the hospital, family, school and community resources to ensure the student’s needs are being met.
Research & Innovation
A history of advancing standards of care; a commitment to future breakthroughs
Whether it be in our labs, in the operating room or at the bedside, our team is motivated to find new solutions to the evolving challenges of congenital heart disease, focusing our efforts in basic science, clinical research, outcomes research and translational research.
A strong academic partner
With our strong partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin, our center has access to state-of-the-art labs, expert scientists and breakthrough clinical trials that help to accelerate our work.
The Innovation Fund
Through generous benefactors, we have created a $25+ million endowment to support faculty in research, quality improvement efforts and innovations in education and training.
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
Our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program is the largest in the state and we are nationally accredited as a Comprehensive Care Center by the Adult Congenital Heart Association.
With this new and ever-growing population, we are committed to leading the way in research. Currently, we are leading a multi-center study that looks into the neurodevelopmental outcomes of adults with CHD.
Wraparound care
Sibling support
Each year, more than 660 children use our Sibling Support program, designed to normalize the hospital experience through play.
Out-of-state coordination
Our highly trained navigators serve as a liaison with clinical professionals. They help coordinate visits, schedule appointments and gather medical records. They also help with financial approvals and lodging at our local Ronald McDonald House or nearby hotel. To date, the Access Center has helped families from more than 40 states and seven countries.
Transport services
We are able to safely transport patients via ambulance, helicopter or fixed-wing plane from anywhere in the country to our hospital.
Additionally, we have an ambulance and fixed-wing plane that are fitted with a mobile ECMO system so that we can transport a patient to our center from anywhere in the continental United States.
Our leadership
Connect with us
We welcome the opportunity to partner with you to serve your patients and deliver the very best outcomes possible.
For referrals, visit childrenswi.org/heartreferral or call (414) 266-2460.
To discuss second opinion cases, contact us at cardiologysecondopinion@chw.org or (877) 217-4341.