You can take action to protect your heart.

When you call Meriter Women's HeartCare, we will schedule a risk assessment visit. We'll see if you are at low, moderate or high risk for heart disease and tell you about next steps.

From there, you may choose to follow up with your primary care provider or return for an evaluation from our lifestyle intervention program.

Lifestyle Intervention Program

Meriter Women's HeartCare lifestyle intervention program helps you make changes for a healthy heart. This is hard work, it’s true, but you’ll have the support of a team of experts in women’s heart health.

For the best chance of adopting permanent lifestyle changes, we recommend you attend 12 monthly visits. You can meet either individually with our interdisciplinary team or in a group setting with other women who – like you – believe they owe it to themselves and those they love to be healthy for life. Of course, you may opt out of the lifestyle intervention program at any time.

Between visits, your team members call or email to answer questions and help you keep with your plan. We’ll stay in touch along the way to see how you’re doing. And we always keep your personal physician involved and informed through regular reports.

What is a Shared Medical Appointment?

A shared medical appointment (SMA) is held in a group setting where you get the opportunity to share and discuss your medical concerns with healthcare professionals and other women. The advantage of these appointments is the opportunity to obtain new insight into your health and the extra motivation needed to make lifestyle changes.

How Does It Work?
• Appointments are led by the nurse practitioner or health psychologist.
• Group size may vary with a range of 3-10 participants.
• Participants sign a confidentiality agreement. Your privacy will always be respected.
• Shared sessions are typically 60-90 minutes.
• Frequency of appointments depends on goals set by you and your nurse practitioner/health psychologist.
• Cost is the same as a regular office visit and is covered by insurance (with typical co-pays).