Monday, August 29, 2011

Cardiology Hospitalist Programs Becoming a Reality

From St. Louis Today:
The first cardiology hospitalist program in the St. Louis area recently began at St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital allowing more focused care for hospitalized heart patients by board-certified cardiologists available throughout the day.

Patricia Cole, MD, an interventional cardiologist, is the director of inpatient cardiology services at St. John’s Mercy leading the new group. Mary Carolyn Gamache, MD, FACC, recently joined Mercy as the second cardiology hospitalist. She has been practicing with Metro Heart Group of St. Louis since 1995. Along with the cardiologists, three nurse practioners will also be a constant presence for patients and families.
On-site interventional "cardiology hospitalists" may improve door-to-balloon times during acute heart attacks, but will also place additional pressure on community-based interventional cardiologists to join forces with hospitals since their ability to expand their practices with new acute patients will be severely limited as a result.

The path to "cardiology proceduralist" continues.

-Wes


2 comments:

Michael said...

"cardiology proceduralist" No disrespect but there's another kind?

Tim Hulsey, MD said...

Cardiology Proceduralist? Wes, will that be a weekend course or require a full week. Are there any pre-requisite- high school diploma or equivalent, college degree? Surely not an MD degree! After all, we're not talking about rocket surgery here!