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Dr. Walter Cha, MD

(Dr. Walter Sun Cha, MD)

(16 Ratings)

Specializes in: General Surgery

MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine (1996)

Professional interests include: laparoscopic splenectomy, gallbladder cancer, laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, and more.

12300 Mccracken Road
Garfield Heights, OH 44125

(440) 449-1101

Dr. Walter Cha, MD is a general surgeon in Garfield Heights, OH specializing in general surgery. He graduated from MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine in 1996 and has 28 years of experience. Dr. Walter Cha, MD is affiliated with Euclid Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center, Marymount Hospital and Mentor Hospital.

Office Locations

Address:

12300 Mccracken Road
Garfield Heights, OH 44125

Address:

18901 Lakeshore Boulevard
Euclid, OH 44119

Address:

2500 Metrohealth Drive
Cleveland, OH 44109

Address:

2762 Landon Road
Shaker Heights, OH 44122

Address:

6770 Mayfield Road
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124

Address:

8300 Norton Parkway
Mentor, OH 44060

Address:

8701 Darrow Road
Twinsburg, OH 44087

Some issues Dr. Walter Cha, MD can help you with:

Adrenalectomy (Adrenal Surgery)

Adrenalectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the adrenal glands, which lie above each kidney. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones that are necessary for bodily functions, such as the regulation of blood pressure and metabolism. If the adrenal glands overproduce certain hormones, or if a tumor grows on them, removal of the glands is a treatment option.

Adrenal surgery can be open or laparoscopic. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that inserts a thin tube with a camera (laparoscope) through several small incisions on the abdomen. The surgeon uses the laparoscope to guide the procedure and is able to access and remove adrenal glands through the small incisions. Laparoscopic adrenal surgery lasts approximately 1-2 hours.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is associated with shorter recovery periods, reduced risk of infection, and smaller scars. Although these factors may be desirable, the location of the tumor, its size, and the severity of the condition may require that an individual instead undergo open surgery. An open adrenalectomy is typically done for larger adrenal tumors and requires a single, large incision on the abdomen. Open adrenal surgery takes around 2-4 hours.

Following the operation, patients will remain in the hospital for 1-2 days for a laparoscopic adrenalectomy or 3-5 days for an open adrenalectomy. Patients will likely have a liquid diet immediately after their surgery, but should be able to return to solid foods after a day. If both of the glands are removed, patients will be given drug therapy to replace the hormones they produced.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a kind of minimally invasive surgery using a thin, narrow tube called a laparoscope. Usually performed on the abdomen or the pelvic region, the surgeon makes a few very small incisions instead of one large one.

During the procedure, the surgeon inserts the laparoscope, which contains a light and camera that allows the surgeon to see what is happening inside the body. Then tiny tools are placed through the small openings and used to perform the surgery.

The most common laparoscopic surgery is gallbladder removal, but laparoscopic surgery may also be used for the removal of a kidney or appendix, to treat certain cysts and tumors, for bariatric surgery, for some GERD treatments, or for hernia repairs, among others.

Because laparoscopic surgery only uses a few tiny incisions, the scars are minimal and recovery is easier than with open surgery.

Pancreatectomy (Pancreas Removal)

Pancreatectomy is surgery to remove part or all of the pancreas to treat pancreatitis, tumors, or cancer. The pancreas is located behind the stomach and near the small intestine and spleen. There are three sections of the pancreas:

The head, which is the portion closest to the intestines
The body, which is the middle portion of the pancreas
The tail, which is the portion nearest the spleen

Pancreas removal procedures differ based on how much of the pancreas and surrounding organs are removed. There are three types of pancreatectomy:

Distal pancreatectomy removes the tail and body of the pancreas. This procedure treats tumors confined to these areas.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy, or the Whipple procedure, removes the pancreas, duodenum, bile duct, and, sometimes, part of the stomach. The Whipple procedure is used for pancreatic tumors that have not spread past the head of the pancreas and for other conditions affecting the pancreas, duodenum, and bile duct.
Total pancreatectomy removes the whole pancreas along with the duodenum, gallbladder, parts of the stomach and bile duct, surrounding lymph nodes, and, potentially, the spleen. Rarely performed, total pancreatectomy treats conditions that involve the entire pancreas, such as tumors found in multiple sites on the pancreas, or for rare tumors such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN).

Pancreatectomy can be done by open or minimally invasive surgery. During a laparoscopic pancreatectomy, the surgeon will use tiny incisions to insert a thin tube with a camera, or laparoscope, into the abdomen. Open surgery, or a laparotomy, is performed through a larger incision on the abdomen. If additional organs are removed, some procedures may require that the small intestine be reconnected to the stomach.

The hospital for pancreatectomy stay may be between 1-3 weeks. Generally, laparoscopic surgeries require shorter recovery periods. Whether patients undergo an open or laparoscopic procedure is determined by factors such as their condition and the extent of their procedure. For example, open surgery tends to be more common for distal pancreatectomies. If patients have difficulty eating, they may require a nasogastric tube, inserted through the nose, to carry food to their stomachs. A catheter can be inserted into the bladder if patients have trouble urinating. Full recovery may take about two months.

abdominal surgery	15
doctor visit	187
gastrointestinal procedures	15
hospital care	193
inpatient care	193
open surgery	16

**Gender**
Male	134
Female	133

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	223
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	96
From 75 to 84	91
85 and over	44
Less than 65	36

Hypertension	72
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	21
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	38
Dementia	15
Cancer	18

abdominal surgery	12
doctor visit	186
gastrointestinal procedures	12
hospital care	262
inpatient care	262
open surgery	13

**Gender**
Male	134
Female	163

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	256
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	117
From 75 to 84	83
85 and over	54
Less than 65	43

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	42
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	39
Asthma	18
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	22
Heart Failure	28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	33
Dementia	12
Cancer	21

abdominal surgery	14
doctor visit	184
gastrointestinal procedures	14
hospital care	182
inpatient care	182
open surgery	15

**Gender**
Male	294
Female	314

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	526
Black	54
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	244
From 75 to 84	164
85 and over	96
Less than 65	104

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	8
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	35
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	26
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	33
Dementia	14
Cancer	18

abdominal surgery	12
doctor visit	187
gastrointestinal procedures	12
hospital care	159
inpatient care	159
open surgery	13

**Gender**
Male	153
Female	149

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	257
Black	31
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	123
From 75 to 84	93
85 and over	48
Less than 65	38

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	24
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	34
Dementia	15
Cancer	17

abdominal surgery	15
doctor visit	173
gastrointestinal procedures	15
hospital care	210
inpatient care	210
open surgery	16

**Gender**
Male	159
Female	141

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	254
Black	31
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	134
From 75 to 84	85
85 and over	49
Less than 65	32

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	47
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	37
Dementia	14
Cancer	19

abdominal surgery	31
doctor visit	214
gastrointestinal procedures	31
hospital care	151
inpatient care	151
minimally invasive procedures	11
open surgery	20

**Gender**
Male	151
Female	120

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	225
Black	28
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	126
From 75 to 84	84
85 and over	33
Less than 65	28

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	40
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	27
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	18
Diabetes	34
Dementia	15
Cancer	18

abdominal surgery	23
doctor visit	198
gastrointestinal procedures	23
hospital care	99
inpatient care	99
minimally invasive procedures	13
open surgery	10

**Gender**
Male	137
Female	118

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	204
Black	34
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	120
From 75 to 84	76
85 and over	41
Less than 65	18

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	39
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	31
Dementia	18
Cancer	17

doctor visit	149
hospital care	130
inpatient care	130

**Gender**
Male	122
Female	113

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	199
Black	19
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	113
From 75 to 84	72
85 and over	37
Less than 65	13

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	33
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	25
Dementia	11
Cancer	25

abdominal surgery	23
doctor visit	367
gastrointestinal procedures	23
hospital care	260
inpatient care	260
minimally invasive procedures	10
open surgery	13

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Walter Cha, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Walter Cha, MD treated as a general surgeon in Garfield Heights, OH were hospital care, inpatient care, abdominal surgery and gastrointestinal procedures.

abdominal surgery	18
doctor visit	206
gastrointestinal procedures	18
hospital care	182
inpatient care	182
minimally invasive procedures	11
open surgery	14

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter Cha, MD.

**Gender**
Male	128
Female	125

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	19
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	214
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	74
85 and over	40
Less than 65	31
65 to 74	107

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Walter Cha, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Walter Cha, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	11
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	26
Atrial Fibrillation	14
Cancer	15
Dementia	11

Education & Training

Dr. Walter Cha, MD graduated from MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine in 1996. He completed residency at MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, Allegheny University Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Surgery - General Surgery and has a state license in Pennsylvania.

Medical School: MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine (1996)

Residency: MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, Allegheny University Affiliated Hospitals (1998)

Board Certification: Surgery - General Surgery

Licensed In: Pennsylvania

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Walter Cha, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Euclid Hospital

Hillcrest Hospital

Cleveland Clinic

Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center

Marymount Hospital

Mentor Hospital

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Walter Cha, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.94 out of 5 stars based on 16 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Walter Cha, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Garfield Heights, OH.

4.94

Overall Rating

(16 Ratings)

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General Payments

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

**Payments by Company**
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$14,518 Da Vinci Surgical System $11,518	DAVINCI XI $3,000
Covidien Sales LLC	$1,596 Soft Tissue Mechanical $1,500	Synthetic Mesh $96
Medtronic, Inc.	$781 Signia $781
Ethicon US, LLC	$219 HARMONIC Product Family $114	ECHELON FLEX Stapler $102	SURGICEL Family of Absorbable Hemostats $3
ACell, Inc.	$171 $171
Other	$824 VENTRALIGHT $129	GORE SEAMGUARD Bioabsorbable Staple Line Reinforce $128	HEMOBLAST Bellows $107	iDrive Ultra $77	Wegovy $48	Other $335

**Types of Payments**
Education	$9,000
Travel and Lodging	$4,098
Food and Beverage	$3,510
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$1,500

Biography

Dr. Walter Cha sees patients in Shaker Heights, OH, Garfield Heights, OH, and Cleveland, OH. His medical specialty is general surgery. After attending MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, he completed his residency training at Temple University Hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital, and a hospital affiliated with MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, Allegheny University. Dr. Cha's areas of expertise include the following: idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), second opinions, and pancreatectomy (pancreas removal). Patient ratings for Dr. Cha average 5.0 stars (out of 5). He is professionally affiliated with Euclid Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital, and Marymount Hospital.