The vascular system, a network of veins, arteries and capillaries, affects every system of the body. It transports blood cells, nutrients and oxygen to tissues throughout the body and takes away waste and carbon dioxide.

When something goes wrong with a blood vessel, like a blockage or rupture, it can have major consequences on your health.

A new vascular clinic at New Ulm Medical Center, opened earlier this year, offers diagnostic and follow-up services for people with vascular conditions. It is staffed by Joseph Karam, MD, a Minneapolis Heart Institute® vascular and endovascular surgeon. Karam sees patients in New Ulm monthly and has begun planning to provide telehealth consultations. Most patients will need a referral from their primary care provider for vascular services.

“We’re fortunate in New Ulm to have services like this for our patients,” said Herman Louters, MD, NUMC family medicine physician. “It’s helpful for us as primary care providers to work more closely with specialists like Dr. Karam, and it’s a great service for our patients who don’t have to travel long distances to access very specialized care.”

Physicians like Karam treat conditions like carotid artery disease, aneurysms, blood vessel blockages in the chest, belly, intestine or liver, wounds that don’t heal, peripheral artery disease and varicose veins. “Basically, we treat blood vessel problems throughout the body, except those that occur inside the brain or heart,” said Karam.

Karam treats patient using traditional “open” surgery as well as with minimally invasive procedures. These procedures involve very small incisions and instruments that are inserted inside a blood vessel. Patients who need vascular treatment are treated at Minneapolis Heart Institute® locations at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis or Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia.

With the vascular clinic at NUMC, patients have “a one-stop shop” for all the testing and vascular studies needed for diagnosis and follow-up care. “The vascular lab at New Ulm has all the capabilities for testing and uses the same high quality standards as all of our vascular labs, so patients can get their tests done and see me on the same day,” said Karam.

“We look forward to continuing to work with NUMC to serve their patients,” said Karam. “It’s a privilege to work with the New Ulm team and evolve along with them in serving the community.”

To learn more about vascular disease, visit allinahealth.org and search vascular disease.

https://www.allinahealth.org/health-conditions-and-treatments/vascular-services/vascular-disease