Chattanooga, Tenn. – Erlanger Health System announced today that it will collaborate with the Columbia University Medical Center’s innovative HeartSource program to elevate the scope and quality of heart care in the southeast and beyond.
Charles Campbell, MD, Chief of the UT Erlanger Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, announced the collaboration today at Erlanger, along with Michael Argenziano, MD, Chief of the Adult Cardiac Surgery Section, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.
The Erlanger and Columbia relationship will provide ongoing interaction between cardiologists in New York City and Chattanooga. By sharing clinical data, the two cardiovascular teams can make better decisions, improve patient outcomes and continually increase overall cardiovascular performance. The collaboration allows Erlanger to have 24/7 access to the newest knowledge and therapies in cardiovascular treatment and care.
“When it comes to advancing patient care, collaboration and cooperation are proven to yield greater results,” explains Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, President & CEO of the Erlanger Health System. “It’s all about better outcomes for patients.”
Dr. Campbell also recognizes the importance of collaboration. He anticipates drawing on outcomes data from Columbia as his team launches a new heart valve center and heart failure clinic this year. “These are critically important expansions of services for the Chattanooga region,” says Dr. Campbell. “Through our affiliation with Columbia HeartSource, we expect even better outcomes.”
Columbia ranks among the top 10 cardiology programs in the country, and US News & World Report ranks Columbia among the nation’s top three “Best Hospitals for Adult Cardiology & Heart Surgery.”
US News & World Report also ranks Erlanger as the #1 hospital in Chattanooga. The Erlanger Health System has five Tennessee-based medical campuses, including the region’s only children’s hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center, providing the highest level of trauma care. Affiliated with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga, Erlanger is the nation’s tenth largest public health system. It is also the region’s only academic teaching center and treats more than a quarter million patients every year.
