News Release
Iowa's cardiac leaders announce service integration
September 17, 2009
On Oct. 1, 2009, Iowa Heart Center and Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines will integrate their services to create one of the nation's premier cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery centers. This alignment expands the 40-year relationship between the two organizations and will result in enhanced collaboration, improved health outcomes and exceptional patient care.
"This physician-hospital model of integration allows us to follow the path of success of other great organizations, such as The Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic," said William J. Wickemeyer, M.D., president of the Iowa Heart Center Board of Directors. "More importantly, this agreement enables our physicians and providers to work more closely together and take cardiovascular care in Iowa and the Midwest to the next level."
Mercy President & CEO David Vellinga agreed the integration will lead to better health outcomes for patients. "Combining Mercy's hospital-based services with Iowa Heart Center's facilities, outreach clinics and physicians results in a more coordinated model of care for the patients we serve. Working together, we will be able to strengthen collaborative efforts in the areas of research and treatment and expand access to quality care in outlying communities. Moving forward, this integration of services and resources will allow us to enhance the excellent care we already offer and lead the way to the next generation of innovative cardiovascular care."
Mercy and Iowa Heart have collaborated for many years and together have pioneered significant advances in cardiovascular care. For example, in 1979, the two organizations worked together to perform Iowa's first balloon coronary angioplasty. Later, in the 1990s, collaborative efforts enabled them to be the first in Iowa to place a coronary stent, to perform a radio frequency catheter ablation, to implant a combination pacemaker/defibrillator and to perform minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
The integration will create the largest cardiovascular program in Iowa. Following the alignment, Iowa Heart Center physicians and staff will be employed by Mercy and will continue to provide services at all current hospital and clinic locations – Ames, Carroll, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Ottumwa and West Des Moines, as well as their 28 outreach clinics across the state. Patients of both organizations will be able to take advantage of a full continuum of world-class care options, from the prevention and diagnosis of heart disease to the latest medical research and leading-edge treatments available.
About Iowa Heart Center
Iowa Heart Center, founded in 1970, is one of the nation's premier cardiovascular medicine practices. With clinics and offices in Des Moines, Ames, Carroll, Council Bluffs, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Ottumwa and West Des Moines, Iowa Heart Center's physicians and staff are committed to providing world-class heart care, research and prevention services to Iowa families. For more information, visit www.iowaheart.com.
About Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines
Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines is an 802-bed acute care, not-for-profit Catholic hospital situated on three campuses. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1893, Mercy is the longest continually operating hospital in Des Moines and one of the Midwest's largest referral centers, with more than 6,600 employees and 950 physicians and allied health professionals. Mercy provides support services to a network of critical access hospitals and other health care facilities in 18 central Iowa communities and provides a full range of outpatient health care services at its Urgent Care clinics, Quick Care clinics and more than 40 family practice and specialty clinics throughout the Des Moines metro area. For more information, visit www.mercydesmoines.org.
Contact Gregg Lagan
Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines
515-247-3050
cell 515-490-6636
