Wellmont Cardiology Services

Cardiovascular Associates was established in 1978 to provide comprehensive cardiovascular services to the Northeast Tennessee/Southwest Virginia region. In May 2010, Wellmont Cardiology Services (WCS) acquired substantially all of the assets of Cardiovascular Associates to become the region's largest provider of comprehensive cardiovascular services.This physician group provides top-quality cardiovascular services to Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Southeast Kentucky and Northwest North Carolina, as well as areas of West Virginia.WCS strives to improve the cardiovascular health of the region and deliver high-quality, cost-effective heart and vascular care with compassion.WCS consists of 55 certified cardiologists and cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons who work in thirteen community offices and the seven member hospitals of Wellmont Health System. WCS diagnoses, treats and manages all aspects of adult cardiovascular disease. Services provided include general cardiology, preventive cardiology, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, vascular medicine, structural heart disease, heart failure management, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery and advanced cardiovascular imaging. WCS also serves as a leader in clinical research and teaching institution through the Cardiovascular University.For fiscal year 2023, WCS had 160,666 outpatient encounters and performed 4,370 surgical procedures.WCS is dedicated to improving the community's access to quality, affordable healthcare, educating the region's caregivers, improving the health status of its communities, and contributing to the quality of life in the areas it serves.CHARITY AND OTHER UNREIMBURSED COSTS:CHARITY CARE: While reimbursement for healthcare services rendered is critical to the operation and sustainability of the organization, Wellmont Cardiology Services recognizes its obligation to provide care to individuals who cannot afford essential medical services, including emergency care. WCS accepts all patients regardless of their ability to pay. A patient is classified as a charity patient when they meet the established policies of WCS and guidelines outlined by the federal government. However, financial assistance decisions are not solely based on income. Unique financial circumstances are weighed with verified patient assets which can determine financial assistance eligibility. It is not until after verification of income and assets that a decision regarding the amount of financial assistance can be made. In fiscal year 2023, WCS incurred a loss of $692,451 attributable to the provision of charity careTENNCAREMEDICAIDMEDICARECHAMPUS WCS provides care to persons covered by governmental programs, such as TennCare (Tennessee residents), Medicaid, Medicare and Champus. WCS incurred a loss of $10,908,321 providing care to this population of patients during the year.It is WCS's obligation to support causes that improve the quality of life in the region. WCS sponsored or participated in educational, community-based programs on healthy lifestyles, risk factor identification, diagnostic and treatment options, including continuing education programs for physicians, nurses and allied health professionals. Such initiatives included:-Annual Cardiovascular Summit-Presentations to medical societiesWCS received the highest 2019 Performance Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology, the nation's largest and most authoritative quality improvement registry with 1.5 million patient records. WCS's platinum level award recognizes its quality performance score of 100% for NSTEMI (a type of heart attack) and STEMI (a very serious type of heart attack in which one of the heart's major arteries is blocked).