Atrial Fibrillation Program

The Atrial Fibrillation Program, part of the Arrhythmia Clinic at the Cardiovascular Center, focuses on providing highly customized care for patients with this disease. Our approach prioritizes working closely with you, your referring clinician and a team of atrial fibrillation specialists at the Cardiovascular Center to develop a treatment plan that lowers your stroke risk and reduces or eliminates your atrial fibrillation symptoms.

Collaborative Teamwork

Your care team at the Atrial Fibrillation clinic will typically include specialists such as a Massachusetts General Hospital electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythm conditions), a Newton-Wellesley cardiologist, a cardiovascular nurse practitioner and a clinical pharmacist.

A multidisciplinary team approach complements our ability to:

• Determine the cause of your atrial fibrillation.
• Develop an effective arrhythmia treatment plan that keeps you safe and reduces or eliminates your symptoms.
• Review what actions you can take to address your modifiable risk factors for atrial fibrillation, and improve your overall cardiovascular health.
• Determine if you need a blood thinner or other therapy to lower your risk of stroke.
• Monitor your progress and response to treatment.

Leading Treatments & Procedures

Working in conjunction with specialists from MGH assures that our patients have access to the most advanced treatments at both settings. Observation or medication is typically the first option for managing patients, but some require a procedural intervention to achieve control of their atrial fibrillation and its symptoms.

Medications include:

• Anticoagulants for stroke prevention
• Medications for heart-rate control during atrial fibrillation
• Antiarrhythmic medications for prevention of atrial fibrillation

Our Team

• Moussa Mansour, MD, Medical Director of Electrophysiology, NWH and Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory and Atrial Fibrillation Program, MGH
• Leon Ptazsek, MD
• Stefanos Parpos, MD
• Yamini Levitzky, MD
• George Philippides, MD
• Alisa Rosen, MD
• Giulia Sheftel, MD
• Michael Coronado, MD
• Megan Grady, ANP-BC
• Erika Felix-Getzik, Pharm-D

Looking Ahead to Your Visit

The first visit includes a comprehensive meeting with one of our cardiologists along with a cardiovascular nurse practitioner and clinical pharmacist. The cardiologist will review any relevant medical history and prior testing and conduct a thorough physical exam. An electrophysiologist is available during each session for any additional consultation needs.

If more diagnostic information is needed, additional testing, such as advanced cardiac imaging, may be advised. Our team includes non-invasive cardiologists and radiologists who specialize in employing a variety of imaging techniques to evaluate your heart in detail.

Patient education is a cornerstone of our care model. During each visit, we will partner with you to ensure that you understand your condition and treatment options. Our clinical pharmacist is available to teach you how to safely take all of your medications and answer any questions you may have about drug interactions and cost.

One Call Coordinates Care

Please call 617-831-7100 to request an appointment. Our access team is available to triage your call and arrange a prompt evaluation with the most appropriate atrial fibrillation specialist.