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Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD

Accepting New Patients

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Specializes in: Thoracic Surgery
University of Utah School of Medicine (2002)
Professional interests include: mitral regurgitation (leaky mitral valve), aorta surgery, Marfan syndrome, and more.
1160 E 3900 S Suite 3500
Salt Lake City, UT 84124

Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD is a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT specializing in thoracic surgery. He graduated from University of Utah School of Medicine in 2002 and has 23 years of experience. Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD is affiliated with Optum, Timpanogos Regional Hospital, MountainStar Healthcare, OptumCare Utah and MOUNTAINSTAR CARDIOVASCULAR SERVICES LLC.

View Doctor's Full Profile (801) 743-4765

Office Locations

OptumCare Utah

1160 E 3900 S Suite 3500
Salt Lake City, UT 84124
(801) 743-4765
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700 West 800 North Suite 444
Orem, UT 84057
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Orem, UT 84057
1-800-NSU-ITE4
(801) 743-4765
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Some issues Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD 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.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, cardiac procedures and thoracic (chest) surgery procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

bypass surgery 17
cardiac procedures 66
doctor visit 88
hospital care 149
inpatient care 149
minimally invasive procedures 16
open surgery 34
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures 34
vascular procedures 16

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 108
Female 74
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 153
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 57
From 75 to 84 40
85 and over 39
Less than 65 46

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2013

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2013 were heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and high cholesterol.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 74
Stroke 12
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 32
Chronic Kidney Disease 62
Asthma 14
Osteoperosis 8
Atrial Fibrilation 27
Heart Failure 75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 49
Diabetes 47
Dementia 15
Cancer 12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care, cardiac procedures and thoracic (chest) surgery procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

bypass surgery 16
cardiac procedures 60
doctor visit 43
hospital care 82
inpatient care 82
minimally invasive procedures 14
open surgery 32
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures 32
vascular procedures 14

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 91
Female 79
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 141
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 53
From 75 to 84 32
85 and over 43
Less than 65 42

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2014

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2014 were heart failure, high cholesterol, hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 16
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 36
Chronic Kidney Disease 63
Asthma 12
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 35
Heart Failure 75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 41
Diabetes 44
Dementia 16
Cancer 12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2015 were cardiac procedures, hospital care, inpatient care and thoracic (chest) surgery procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

bypass surgery 19
cardiac procedures 94
doctor visit 46
hospital care 72
inpatient care 72
minimally invasive procedures 28
open surgery 38
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures 38
vascular procedures 28

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 158
Female 142
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 122
85 and over 90
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2015

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2015 were heart failure, high cholesterol, hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 14
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 33
Chronic Kidney Disease 67
Asthma 27
Osteoperosis 9
Atrial Fibrilation 60
Heart Failure 75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 53
Diabetes 43
Dementia 17
Cancer 17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2016 were cardiac procedures, hospital care, inpatient care and minimally invasive procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

bypass surgery 12
cardiac procedures 138
doctor visit 110
hospital care 81
inpatient care 81
minimally invasive procedures 38
open surgery 24
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures 24
vascular procedures 38

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 112
Female 95
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 191
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 59
From 75 to 84 71
85 and over 64
Less than 65 13

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2016

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2016 were heart failure, high cholesterol, hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 9
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 24
Chronic Kidney Disease 74
Asthma 41
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 45
Heart Failure 75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 39
Diabetes 54
Dementia 18
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2017 were cardiac procedures, minimally invasive procedures, vascular procedures and hospital care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

cardiac procedures 80
doctor visit 85
hospital care 20
inpatient care 20
minimally invasive procedures 24
vascular procedures 24

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 87
Female 81
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 63
85 and over 53
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2017

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2017 were heart failure, high cholesterol, hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 20
Chronic Kidney Disease 57
Asthma 11
Osteoperosis 15
Atrial Fibrilation 48
Heart Failure 75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 38
Diabetes 41
Dementia 17
Cancer 14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2018 were cardiac procedures, minimally invasive procedures, vascular procedures and hospital care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

cardiac procedures 138
doctor visit 24
hospital care 12
inpatient care 12
minimally invasive procedures 50
vascular procedures 34

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 78
Female 60
Age
From 65 to 74 36
From 75 to 84 47
85 and over 44
Less than 65 11

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2018

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2018 were heart failure, high cholesterol, hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 9
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 31
Chronic Kidney Disease 70
Asthma 13
Osteoperosis 10
Atrial Fibrilation 51
Heart Failure 75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 37
Diabetes 37
Dementia 23
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2019 were cardiac procedures, minimally invasive procedures and vascular procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

cardiac procedures 96
minimally invasive procedures 48
vascular procedures 28

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 44
Female 42
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 73
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 28
From 75 to 84 34
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2019

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2019 were hypertension, heart failure, ischemic heart disease and high cholesterol.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 65
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 73
Depression 26
Chronic Kidney Disease 58
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 40
Heart Failure 73
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 29
Diabetes 30
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2020 were cardiac procedures, minimally invasive procedures and vascular procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

cardiac procedures 44
minimally invasive procedures 22
vascular procedures 22

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 35
Female 25
Age
From 65 to 74 19
From 75 to 84 21
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2020

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2020 were heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and high cholesterol.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 70
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 20
Chronic Kidney Disease 67
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 32
Heart Failure 75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 32
Diabetes 48
Dementia 18
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2021 were cardiac procedures, minimally invasive procedures and vascular procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

cardiac procedures 50
doctor visit 17
minimally invasive procedures 25
vascular procedures 25

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 52
Female 32
Age
From 65 to 74 34
From 75 to 84 28
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2021

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2021 were heart failure, high cholesterol, hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 75
Depression 27
Chronic Kidney Disease 69
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 13
Atrial Fibrilation 43
Heart Failure 75
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 35
Diabetes 46
Dementia 0
Cancer 15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT during 2022 were cardiac procedures, minimally invasive procedures and vascular procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

cardiac procedures 52
minimally invasive procedures 26
vascular procedures 26

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 37
Female 38
Age
From 65 to 74 23
From 75 to 84 30
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD in 2022

The most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated during 2022 were high cholesterol, hypertension, heart failure and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 75
Stroke 15
Ischemic Heart Disease 71
Depression 36
Chronic Kidney Disease 49
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 16
Atrial Fibrilation 48
Heart Failure 72
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 29
Diabetes 35
Dementia 0
Cancer 19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated as a thoracic surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT were cardiac procedures, hospital care, inpatient care and thoracic (chest) surgery procedures.

bypass surgery 16
cardiac procedures 81
doctor visit 59
hospital care 69
inpatient care 69
minimally invasive procedures 29
open surgery 32
thoracic (chest) surgery procedures 32
vascular procedures 25

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD.

Gender
Male 80
Female 66
Ethnicity
Black / African American 0
Asian / Pacific Islander 0
Non-Hispanic White 55
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Hispanic 0
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 48
85 and over 33
Less than 65 11
65 to 74 30

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD From 2013 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD treated were hypertension, heart failure, ischemic heart disease and high cholesterol.

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 73
Stroke 8
Ischemic Heart Disease 74
Depression 28
Chronic Kidney Disease 63
Asthma 11
Osteoporosis 9
Heart Failure 74
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 38
Diabetes 42
Atrial Fibrillation 42
Cancer 11
Dementia 12

Education & Training

Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD graduated from University of Utah School of Medicine in 2002. He completed residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and has a state license in Missouri.

Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine (2002)

Residency: Barnes-Jewish Hospital (2009)

Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Licensed In: Missouri

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Optum
Timpanogos Regional Hospital
MountainStar Healthcare
OptumCare Utah
MOUNTAINSTAR CARDIOVASCULAR SERVICES LLC

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
ClearFlow Inc. $19,886 PleuraFlow
$15,135 		Pleuraflow System with FlowGlide
$4,751
ClearFlow, Inc. $12,118 PleuraFlow
$12,118
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation $4,103 Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra Transcatheter Heart Valve
$444 		Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve
$404 		INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve
$338 		Heart Valve Repair
$293 		Pericardial Heart Valves
$172 		Other
$2,451
Medtronic Vascular, Inc. $3,983 Heart Valves
$2,616 		CG Future
$494 		CoreValve Evolut
$321 		Simulus
$147 		Mosaic
$105 		Other
$300
Stryker Corporation $3,718 New Product Development
$1,468 		Custom Cranial Implant
$1,000 		None
$750 		MAXFACE
$500
Other $10,491 VASOVIEW
$1,576 		HEART VALVE
$1,384 		Perceval
$1,348 		On-X
$1,207 		Epic Stented Tissue Valve
$1,098 		Other
$3,877
Types of Payments
Honoraria $15,000
Consulting Fee $12,152
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program $11,201
Food and Beverage $8,572
Travel and Lodging $6,542
Other $832

Research Payments

Dr. Spencer James Melby, MD has received 58 research payments totaling $468,941.

Biography

Dr. Spencer Melby practices thoracic surgery in Orem, UT. After completing medical school at the University of Utah School of Medicine, he performed his residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Areas of expertise for Dr. Melby include transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), heart bypass surgery (CABG), and heart attack. Dr. Melby is conversant in Spanish. Dr. Melby is affiliated with Timpanogos Regional Hospital.

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