Procedure Volume Patient Data Patient Conditions Reviews Back to Top

Home > MN Providers > Cardiologists

Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP

Accepting New Patients

(No ratings)

Specializes in: Cardiology (Heart Disease) and Internal Medicine (Adult Medicine)

Professional interests include: tachycardia (very fast heart rate), stress testing, coronary artery disease, and more.

402 E 2nd Street
Duluth, MN 55805

(218) 786-4000

Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP is a nurse in Duluth, MN specializing in cardiology (heart disease) and internal medicine (adult medicine). Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP is affiliated with Essentia Health, ST MARYS MEDICAL CENTER and THE DULUTH CLINIC LTD.

Office Locations

402 E 2nd Street
Duluth, MN 55805

open_in_new

Some issues Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP can help you with:

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It happens when the blood vessels carrying blood to the heart, called coronary arteries, narrow and harden. This occurs when cholesterol, a type of fat found in the blood, builds up to form plaque, which sticks to the inner walls of the arteries. As plaque accumulates, less blood can flow through the arteries, which may lead to the following:

Angina, which is chest pain that occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood flow.
Heart attack, which happens if the arteries leading to the heart are completely blocked.
Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which can develop if the heart does not have enough blood supply.
Heart failure, which may occur if a heart attack damages the heart and it becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Certain factors may increase risk for the disease, like smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. CAD tends to develop over decades, so it can go undetected until it has become quite severe. A diagnosis may be established using such tests as:

Electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the heart's electrical activity over a period of time. ECGs can detect whether there is enough blood flow to the heart or if a heart attack has occurred.
Echocardiogram (echo), which creates images of the heart using sound waves. Echos can show whether the heart is able to pump blood normally.
Stress tests, where an ECG or echo is combined with exercise, like riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. This test is done to find out if the heart can function properly while performing a strenuous activity.

Treatments for the disease include medications such as vasodilators, like nitroglycerin, which dilates (widens) the coronary arteries. CAD may also be treated by a procedure called angioplasty with stent placement, where a balloon is inflated inside a diseased artery to flatten the plaque deposits against the artery walls, creating more room for blood to flow.

In some severe cases of the disease, multiple arteries may be blocked, and an open heart surgery called coronary artery bypass surgery may be necessary. This operation transplants a vessel from another part of the body to form a graft that goes past the narrowed arteries, thus enabling blood to flow around those arteries.

Heart Attack

A heart attack is a serious medical event that happens when the blood supplying oxygen to the heart is cut off, usually because of a blockage in an artery. This results in damage or death of part of the heart muscle. The heart can heal, but like any part of the body that was injured it leaves a scar. This scar tissue does not contract effectively, so the ability of the heart to pump is lowered after a heart attack.

A heart attack, sometimes called a myocardial infarction, can happen without warning. However there are certain factors that raise the risk of heart attack. Some of these are:

Age
Gender (most heart attack sufferers are male)
A family history of heart attacks
Smoking
Obesity
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Unhealthy lifestyle choices (lack of exercise, poor diet, too much alcohol or stress)

Heart attacks typically feel like pain or pressure in the chest that can radiate out to the back, arm, or jaw. Some other symptoms can include fatigue or weakness, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea.

Treatment aims to increase blood flow to the heart muscle by opening up blocked blood vessels. Medications are sometimes used to dissolve clots in the arteries. Aspirin and other medications such as Plavix can thin the blood and make clots less likely to form. Dilators can widen blood vessels to make room for more blood to flow. Doctors can also use a procedure called catheterization to look at the blood vessels around the heart directly, place stents, or widen vessels using angioplasty. In extreme cases bypass surgery can be used to help blood flow better. After recovery, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and take any prescribed medications in order to protect the heart.

Heart Problems

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.

Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.

Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.

Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 25%

By Affordability:

hospital care

inpatient care

inpatient hospital care

In 2013, Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP had a list price for hospital care, inpatient care, and inpatient hospital care (for patient admitted to hospital) that was lower than the list prices billed to Medicare by 75% of providers in related specialties within Minnesota. Actual amounts paid by patients can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including insurance coverage. A lower list price, however, might mean lower fees when paying without insurance.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	433

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	168
Female	192

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	312
Black	27
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	127
From 75 to 84	129
85 and over	72
Less than 65	32

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2016

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated during 2016 were high cholesterol, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrilation.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	25
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	49
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	38
Dementia	15
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated as a nurse in Duluth, MN during 2017 were blood draw, stress testing and cardiac procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

blood draw	65
cardiac procedures	21
doctor visit	497
stress testing	21

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	199
Female	205

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	349
Black	37
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	161
From 75 to 84	125
85 and over	74
Less than 65	44

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2017

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated during 2017 were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrilation.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	57
Heart Failure	41
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	37
Dementia	11
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated as a nurse in Duluth, MN during 2018 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

blood draw	35
doctor visit	333

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	179
Female	135

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	275
Black	27
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	127
From 75 to 84	113
85 and over	37
Less than 65	37

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2018

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated during 2018 were hypertension, high cholesterol, atrial fibrilation and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	59
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	68
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	33
Dementia	13
Cancer	8

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	184

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	121
Female	68

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	164
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	80
From 75 to 84	66
85 and over	22
Less than 65	21

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2019

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated during 2019 were hypertension, high cholesterol, atrial fibrilation and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	11
Ischemic Heart Disease	63
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	47
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	67
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	42
Dementia	12
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated as a nurse in Duluth, MN during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care and cardioversion.

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

cardioversion	12
doctor visit	60
hospital care	48
inpatient care	48

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	68
Female	39

**Age**
From 65 to 74	45
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	15
Less than 65	15

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2020

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated during 2020 were hypertension, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrilation and high cholesterol.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	49
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	66
Heart Failure	62
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	36
Dementia	14
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated as a nurse in Duluth, MN during 2021 were hospital care, inpatient care and cardioversion.

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

cardioversion	17
doctor visit	66
hospital care	27
inpatient care	27

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	74
Female	46

**Age**
From 65 to 74	44
From 75 to 84	47
85 and over	17
Less than 65	12

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2021

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated during 2021 were hypertension, ischemic heart disease, high cholesterol and atrial fibrilation.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	73
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	58
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	60
Heart Failure	60
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	38
Dementia	16
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated as a nurse in Duluth, MN during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	59
hospital care	44
inpatient care	44

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	78
Female	41

**Age**
From 65 to 74	44
From 75 to 84	42
85 and over	20
Less than 65	13

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2022

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated during 2022 were high cholesterol, hypertension, atrial fibrilation and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	22
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	72
Heart Failure	54
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	33
Dementia	0
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated as a nurse in Duluth, MN during 2023 were hospital care, inpatient care and cardioversion.

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

cardioversion	14
doctor visit	79
hospital care	31
inpatient care	31

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	84
Female	44

**Age**
From 65 to 74	56
From 75 to 84	37
85 and over	24
Less than 65	11

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP in 2023

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated during 2023 were atrial fibrilation, high cholesterol, hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	17
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	75
Heart Failure	52
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	46
Dementia	0
Cancer	24

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2016 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated as a nurse in Duluth, MN were blood draw, hospital care, inpatient care and stress testing.

blood draw	50
cardiac procedures	21
cardioversion	14
doctor visit	213
hospital care	37
inpatient care	37
stress testing	21

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2016 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP.

**Gender**
Male	121
Female	96

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	11
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	137
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	73
85 and over	35
Less than 65	23
65 to 74	85

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP From 2016 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, atrial fibrilation and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	13
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	9
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	37
Atrial Fibrillation	64
Cancer	12
Dementia	10

Education & Training

She is certified by the Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners - Nurse Practitioner - Family Medicine and has a state license in North Carolina.

Board Certification: Board Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners - Nurse Practitioner - Family Medicine

Licensed In: North Carolina

Affiliations & Hospitals

Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Essentia Health

ST MARYS MEDICAL CENTER

THE DULUTH CLINIC LTD

Ratings & Reviews

Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP does not have any reviews yet, be the first to leave a review of Katherine Anna Ritsche, APRN, CNP here: Leave a Review

(No ratings)

Leave a Review

Biography

Ms. Katherine Ritsche's area of specialization is cardiology (heart disease). Patients rated her highly, giving her an average of 5.0 stars (out of 5). She is affiliated with Essentia Health. Ms. Ritsche has an open panel in Duluth, MN according to Doctor.com.