Cardiovascular Group of Syracuse Aligns With St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center

Alliance allows the practice to remain independent while more closely achieving the collective mission of a patient-centered system of care

Syracuse, N.Y., January 30, 2017 – Effective February 1, 2017, the physicians of North Medical Cardiovascular Group, P.C. d/b/a Cardiovascular Group of Syracuse will begin delivering professional cardiology services to patients in the region through a formal alignment with St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center. This strategic alliance allows the practice to remain independent while more closely achieving the collective mission of creating a patient-centered system of care with outstanding quality at the lowest cost.

“This exciting alliance with these excellent physicians will provide an opportunity for our continued improvements in both quality and efficiency," said Kathryn Ruscitto, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health.

This affiliation comes less than one year after the alignment of the cardiac and vascular surgeons with St. Joseph’s. Such continued consolidation will provide patients with the region’s most comprehensive range of cardiology, cardiac and vascular surgical services across a seamless continuum of care. Together, the providers and the administration can leverage the expertise each possesses to advance the already high quality and efficiency of service while improving the overall patient experience and satisfaction. Further, as these providers begin to collaborate even more closely on the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, there are tremendous opportunities for heart health promotion and rehabilitation.

Mark Charlamb, M.D., speaking for the cardiologists, recognized the only way to continue to improve their quality of care was to work more closely with St. Joseph’s. “Creating a system of care where we’re all rowing in the same direction just makes sense.” Charlamb said. Few would argue with the increasing complexity of the health care system and this was the driving force behind the affiliation. The conversations to work more closely together began over one year ago with a clear and deliberate goal, put the patient first. "Patients deserve an outstanding quality of care centered on them, not the physician or the hospital. This opportunity to work together with our hospital partner will allow us to focus on providing the highest quality and as efficiently as possible with the patient at the center of all our decisions," Charlamb said.

Existing patients and their referring physicians will see no change in service. This includes no changes in services provided at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center and the offices currently staffed by the physicians of the Cardiovascular Group of Syracuse.

About St. Joseph’s Health

St. Joseph’s Health is a non-profit regional health care system based in Syracuse, NY, providing services to patients throughout Central New York and northern Pennsylvania. From primary to specialty to home care, to our Magnet-recognized hospital, and in collaboration with our community partners, St. Joseph's Health is advancing the health of the communities we serve through an expanding range of healthcare services to ensure our patients achieve optimum long-term health. Ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, U.S. News “Best Regional Hospital” and a 15-time winner of the National Research Corporation Consumer Choice award, St. Joseph’s is widely recognized for quality, value and delivering the highest patient satisfaction. St. Joseph’s Health is affiliated with Franciscan Companies and St. Joseph’s Physicians and is a member of Trinity Health.

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