Cedar Rapids heart clinic joining St. Luke’s

Cardiologists PC, the largest heart clinic in Cedar Rapids, will join St. Luke's Hospital next year as a non-profit subsidiary.

The 17 physicians of Cardiologists PC will operate as Cardiologists LC beginning Jan. 1 in the agreement reached Thursday. They will keep offices at 1002 Fourth Ave. SE and at satellite clinics in St. Luke's Hospital and the Regional Medical Center in Manchester.

Cardiologists PC President Dr. Todd Langager said the change is expected to better position the group for expected changes from federal health care reform by avoiding duplication of services with the hospital. He said it will make it easier to recruit physicians to Cedar Rapids, and will allow doctors to spend more time on patient care and less on administration.

“It allows us to become a team instead of, at times, competing against each other,” Langager said.

Cardiologists LC will continue to perform services at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids as well as St. Luke's. Langager said the doctors typically defer to the wishes of patients on which hospitals they prefer.

St. Luke's Hospital CEO Ted Townsend said a major goal of the effort is to “make sure we retain and continue to recruit the quality physicians we need.” Recruiting specialists to Iowa is an added challenge because of the low Medicare reimbursement rates paid in the state, he said.

St. Luke's will pay Cardiologists PC for assets being acquired as part of the agreement. Townsend declined to disclose the amount, which is being determined by independent outside appraisals.

“We believe this partnership will enhance St. Luke's ability to maintain our position as one of the country's top 100 heart hospitals,” Townsend said.

The hospital had started its own cardiology practice, United Heart Associates, under former CEO Dr. Stephen Vanourney, and competed with Cardiologists PC. That practice was dissolved in early 2007.

Shortly thereafter, Cedar Rapids Heart Center PC, affiliated with Iowa City-based Iowa City Heart Center, opened at 1340 Blairs Ferry Road NE.