Wednesday, September 4, 2013

UK's Gill Heart Institute joins Appalachian Regional Healthcare to advance specialty heart care in Eastern Kentucky

Appalachian Regional Healthcare, the Appalachian Heart Center and UK HealthCare’s Gill Heart Institute announced a new collaboration to deliver cardiovascular care to Eastern Kentuckians, which will extend the UK's sub-specialty care footprint and increase access to cardiovascular expertise in the area.

Cardiologists Dr. Vidya Yalamanchi, Dr. Rao Podapati and Dr. Srini R. Appakondu from Hazard's Appalachian Heart Center will team up with UK to provide advanced treatment options not before available in the eastern part of the state.

“We look forward to the opportunity to work closely with the physicians and health care providers at Gill Heart Institute to enhance cardiology services to patients in Eastern Kentucky,” said Dr. Yalamanchi. “This partnership is an example of teamwork that emphasizes a commitment to providing exemplary patient care.”

In addition to the combined efforts in Hazard, UK and ARH have also agreed to jointly administer and manage cardiovascular services at ARH hospitals in Harlan, Whitesburg, McDowell, Hyden and Williamson, W.Va.

 “The goal of this collaboration is to expand the scope of cardiology services provided within our community,” said Joe Grossman, president of ARH. “By providing a range of comprehensive cardiology services, including inpatient and outpatient services to residents of Eastern Kentucky, we hope to improve lives in a region where patients suffer from some of the highest rates of mortality in the nation from heart disease and stroke.”

UK officials have said their hospital must expand its geographical reach to ensure access to quality care for Kentuckians. This collaboration represents a step towards achieving both this goal and the goal of being the hospital destination for sub-specialty care in the state and region.

“This alliance further expands the UK HealthCare mission to improve access to quality health care delivery for all Kentuckians in a cost effective and responsible manner,” Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president of health affairs, said in the release. “But the real benefit for many patients and their loved ones will be the ability to stay close to home for complex cardiology care.”

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