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Home > TN Providers > Cardiac Electrophysiologists

Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH

(112 Ratings)

Specializes in: Cardiac Electrophysiology (Heart Rhythm) and Adult Cardiology

Harvard Medical School (1981)

Professional interests include: angina, cardiac electrophysiological study, electrophysiological (EP) study, and more.

3601 The Vanderbilt Clinic
Nashville, TN 37232

(615) 322-3000

Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH is a cardiac electrophysiologist in Nashville, TN specializing in cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm) and adult cardiology. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1981 and has 45 years of experience. Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH is affiliated with Vanderbilt Health, Williamson Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

Office Locations

1215 21st Avenue South 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37232

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3601 The Vanderbilt Clinic
Nashville, TN 37232

(615) 322-3000

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4323 Carothers Parkway Suite 405
Franklin, TN 37067

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719 Thompson Lane Suite 22100
Nashville, TN 37204

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3601 Tvc
Nashville, TN 37232

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Some issues Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH can help you with:

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

A cardiac resynchronization therapy device, also known as a CRT or biventricular pacemaker, is a kind of pacemaker that can help the heart work more effectively. In certain kinds of heart failure, the ventricles, or larger chambers in the heart, stop working together. When they are no longer in synch, the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. CRT can help keep the heartbeat regular and the ventricles contracting at the same time.

Just as with a standard pacemaker, a biventricular pacemaker consists of a small battery pack and electrical leads, or small wires that conduct electricity to the heart. CRT pacemakers have two or three leads, placed in the upper and lower chambers of the heart. The device measures the contractions of the heart, and if the heart begins to beat out of time it will send small, rhythmic pulses of electricity to resynchronize (hence the name 'cardiac resynchronization therapy) the contractions. This allows the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body more efficiently. Sometimes a CRT is combined with a different kind of device called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or ICD, which uses a higher burst of energy to restart the heart if it stops suddenly.

When a biventricular pacemaker is inserted, the wire leads are usually placed via a small incision near the shoulder, then threaded through a vein to the heart. The battery pack is placed under the skin of the chest near the collarbone. Once everything is in place, the leads are connected to the battery, and the CRT can begin helping the heart beat correctly.

It is normal to experience swelling and discomfort as the incisions from surgery heal. It takes time for the heart to adjust to the pacemaker, so vigorous activity should be kept to a minimum for the first few weeks. Strong magnetic fields may affect how the CRT functions, so patients may be advised to avoid them. As patients heart begins to pump blood more effectively, they should soon begin to feel stronger and less fatigued.

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.

In The News

“The study findings on disparities can be used to help improve the likelihood of bystander CPR for anyone with cardiac arrest, Dr. Walter Clair, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, wrote in an...”—"Black and Hispanic adults less likely than Whites to receive 'potentially lifesaving' bystander CPR during cardiac arrest, study finds", CNN, October 2022

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH treated as a cardiac electrophysiologist in Nashville, TN during 2012 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and implant surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

cardiac procedures	43
doctor visit	305
hospital care	106
implant surgery	43
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) replacement	24
inpatient care	106
minimally invasive procedures	43

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH treated as a cardiac electrophysiologist in Nashville, TN during 2013 were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and implant surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

cardiac procedures	30
doctor visit	257
hospital care	115
implant surgery	30
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) replacement	28
inpatient care	115
minimally invasive procedures	30

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	933
Female	711

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1477
Black	137
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	11
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	578
From 75 to 84	479
85 and over	290
Less than 65	297

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	9
Ischemic Heart Disease	67
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	37
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	39
Dementia	14
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH treated as a cardiac electrophysiologist in Nashville, TN during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) replacement.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	227
hospital care	31
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) replacement	11
inpatient care	31

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	690
Female	525

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1085
Black	100
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	11
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	409
From 75 to 84	411
85 and over	215
Less than 65	180

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	67
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	40
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	41
Dementia	14
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH treated as a cardiac electrophysiologist in Nashville, TN during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	203
hospital care	11
inpatient care	11

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	758
Female	556

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	1194
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	412
From 75 to 84	468
85 and over	304
Less than 65	130

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	65
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	44
Heart Failure	57
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	38
Dementia	16
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH treated as a cardiac electrophysiologist in Nashville, TN during 2016 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	222
hospital care	62
inpatient care	62

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	370
Female	246

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	567
Black	36
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	190
From 75 to 84	222
85 and over	142
Less than 65	62

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	65
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	47
Heart Failure	58
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	39
Dementia	15
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	221

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	277
Female	192

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	426
Black	32
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	142
From 75 to 84	177
85 and over	108
Less than 65	42

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	45
Heart Failure	59
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	36
Dementia	15
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	220

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	240
Female	171

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	370
Black	30
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	125
From 75 to 84	149
85 and over	87
Less than 65	50

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	45
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	43
Heart Failure	57
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	37
Dementia	12
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	215

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	206
Female	142

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	311
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	116
From 75 to 84	127
85 and over	80
Less than 65	25

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	42
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	45
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	35
Dementia	12
Cancer	13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	148

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	169
Female	122

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	268
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	99
From 75 to 84	109
85 and over	61
Less than 65	22

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2020

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	5
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	41
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	30
Dementia	11
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	184

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	164
Female	125

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	263
Black	15
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	113
From 75 to 84	102
85 and over	52
Less than 65	22

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2021

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	60
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	42
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	30
Dementia	11
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	178

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	158
Female	113

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	241
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	105
From 75 to 84	101
85 and over	46
Less than 65	19

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	72
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	47
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	59
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	32
Dementia	7
Cancer	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH treated as a cardiac electrophysiologist in Nashville, TN were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and implant surgery.

cardiac procedures	36
doctor visit	216
hospital care	65
implant surgery	36
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) replacement	21
inpatient care	65
minimally invasive procedures	36

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH.

**Gender**
Male	360
Female	263

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	31
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	563
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	2

**Age**
75 to 84	213
85 and over	125
Less than 65	77
65 to 74	208

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH treated were hypertension, ischemic heart disease, high cholesterol and heart failure.

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	7
Osteoporosis	6
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	32
Atrial Fibrillation	40
Dementia	11
Cancer	11

Education & Training

Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1981. He completed residency at Harvard Medical School Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Board Certification: Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Internal Medicine and has a state license in Tennessee.

Medical School: Harvard Medical School (1981)

Residency: Harvard Medical School Affiliated Hospitals (1984)

Board Certification: Board Certification: Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Internal Medicine

Licensed In: Tennessee

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Vanderbilt Health

Williamson Health

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 112 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH from all over the web to help you find the right in Nashville, TN.

Overall Rating

(112 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.	$133 Cardiac Monitors - Insertable $133

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$133

Research Payments

Dr. Walter K. Clair, MD, MPH has received 73 research payments totaling $109,157.

Biography

Dr. Walter Clair is an adult cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm) specialist in Franklin, TN and Nashville, TN. Dr. Clair has a 5.0 out of 5 star average patient rating. His areas of expertise include atherosclerosis, angina, and cardiac electrophysiological study. His professional affiliations include Williamson Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). According to Doctor.com, new patients are welcome to contact his office in Nashville, TN. He attended Harvard Medical School and then went on to complete his residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Duke University Hospital, and a hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School.