Posted 9:58 pm Wednesday, February 20, 2013
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ETMC, Tyler Cardio Consultants join forces in location
Tyler Cardiovascular Consultants, P.A. and East Texas Medical Center have joined forces to provide cardiovascular care to East Texans at its newest location.
Hospital officials Tuesday, along with members of the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, celebrated the opening of a cardiac catheterization lab and imaging center at a freestanding 17,000 square-foot facility at 2401 SSE Loop 323.
The center offers stress testing, research, echocardiograms, nuclear imaging and PET imaging.
Hospital officials said the new relationship allows ETMC to work closely with specialists at CVC.
They said it will help streamline the process of care for CVC cardiac patients, enabling them to receive outpatient diagnostics more efficiently.
Dr. Robert Carney, one of the nine CVC physicians, said the new center provides a more inviting, personalized and patient-friendly process, with fast recovery and discharge from outpatient procedures.
He said the physician group first mulled the idea of partnering with ETMC last summer and it appreciated the investments the regional hospital system has put into numerous communities.
"(Patients have) always been our priority, and when we look around, ETMC has the same passion," he said.
Elmer Ellis, president/chief executive officer at ETMC, said the joint effort is important to the community, citing his own battle with heart disease.
"Like many East Texans, this is a personal battle for me -- one that I watched my father fight, and one that I now continue to face head-on," he said. "Thanks to medical innovations through CVC and others, I can say with assurance, 'I have heart disease. It doesn't have me.'"
He added, "We are pleased to have a strong alliance with Tyler CVC, as together we will work towards prevention, early detection and new directions in treatment. Unfortunately, East Texas exceeds state averages in heart disease, so there is much work to be done. The good news is that through the dedicated efforts of the CVC team, these doctors and ETMC will continue to change lives and save lives."
In the local public health district's service areas four and five, there is a 9.6 percent and a 12.6 percent prevalence, respectively, of cardiovascular disease and stroke, compared to the state's 8.3 percent.
Construction continues for an addition to the facility. That will include a business office, clinic space, a sleep lab, exercise classes and educational classes. The additional offices will open next year.
Other physicians at the center are Dr. Brent Davis, Dr. David Dick, Dr. David Hector, Dr. Daniel Jackman, Dr. Roderick Meese, Dr. Frank Navetta, Dr. Robert Smith and Dr. Thaddeus Tolleson.
