Legacy Health Strikes Accord with Cardiologists
August 17, 2011 -- Legacy Health System has entered into a clinical co-management agreement with two cardiology groups – Northwest Cardiovascular Institute and Pacific Heart Associates – to provide program development and leadership to its adult cardiovascular services
“The goal was to create a structure in which ideas and concerns could be shared openly, and solutions and strategies for cohesive hospital growth and superior patient care could be implemented,” according to a memo sent by Allyson Anderson, chief administrative officer for Legacy Meridian Park Hospital. “The formation of the clinical co-management agreement evidences significant strides toward this goal.”
All together, 17 Legacy affiliated cardiologists have agreed to participate. Dr. Shawn Patrick will continue as medical director for Legacy’s Cardiovascular Services and assume responsibility for facilitating the process and direction of the structure.
“Additionally, Legacy will have support in coordinating system-wide initiatives focused on the standardization of evidence-based practices and performance,” Anderson added. “Our goal is to achieve national recognition through the appropriate certifications and registries.”
As part of the agreement, the Legacy Cardiovascular Services Steering Committee will provide oversight and be actively involved in program planning and development. Its nine members include Dr. Shawn Patrick (Chair), Dr. Peter Banitt, Dr. Sandeep Garg, Dr. Sandra Lewis, Dr. David Peizner, Dr. Andrew Tsen, Carol Bradley, RN, Trent Green and Gretchen Nichols, RN.
“Legacy Health is served by a group of incredibly talented physicians and practitioners,” Anderson noted. “Through the co-management agreement, we can align this talent with Legacy’s extensive service offering in a way that will help us become the regional leaders in cardiac services and provide the best care for the patients we all serve.”
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page
Printer-friendly version
Comments Welcome
If you'd like to submit a comment on any of the stories that appear in The Lund Report, you'll need to become a subscriber and share your name and email address with us.
You can also send us story tips anonymously.
This sounds like a positive step forward for Legacy Cardiovascular Services. One has to wonder what this new co-management arrangement means for the cardiologists caring for patients at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital. None of these physicians (such as Cascade Heart Clinic or the Vancouver Clinic) appear to be included in the new structure. These physicians are primarily affiliated with Southwest Washington Medical Center, and presumably refer patients to that facility for higher levels of cardiac care. I would expect that Legacy has plans to replace the Salmon Creek cardiologists with cardiologists primarily affiliated with Good Samaritan and Emanuel hospitals.