Piedmont Healthcare Launches Piedmont Heart Institute

Thursday, October 18, 2007

A New, Innovative Approach to Integrate Cardiovascular Care in the Region

CONTACT:  Nina Montanaro, 404-695-3372

ATLANTA, GA (October 19, 2007) - Piedmont Healthcare President and CEO R. Timothy Stack announced the launch of the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI). Building on over a century of cardiovascular experience at Piedmont Hospital, the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI) will bring prominent cardiovascular physician groups together with one of the premier cardiac centers in the region. The Institute's express purpose is to provide a new and innovative model to facilitate and enhance the quality of cardiovascular care for the community.

"We are creating an organization that has already attracted best-in-class leadership," said Stack. "Piedmont has the management foundation and technologies to support world-class physicians, and we anticipate this model of care will represent the best and brightest in cardiovascular services from around the Southeast."

The Piedmont Heart Institute, the first integrated cardiovascular healthcare delivery program affiliated with a community health system in greater Atlanta, combines renowned cardiologists and the Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta at Piedmont Hospital to propel new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, stroke and cardiac imaging.  This novel approach offers a continuum of care for patients from primary and secondary prevention, to outpatient and inpatient cardiovascular care, and appropriate quality measures and metrics to demonstrate enhanced outcomes.

"Collaboration of physicians and hospitals provides the best approach to provide high quality care for our patients. A true integrated healthcare delivery system is the model of the future for patient care," said R. Stephen Taylor, M.D., chief medical officer for Piedmont Healthcare.

Michele M. Molden, former executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Piedmont Healthcare, has been named Chief Executive Officer of the Piedmont Heart Institute. "Michele is a natural for this organization," said Stack. "She brings enthusiasm and skill to PHI. Her years of experience with healthcare strategy, business development and hospital and physician relations make her an ideal person for this new role," Stack added.

The foundation has been laid for the new Piedmont Heart Institute. The future will demonstrate its value for the community.