CHI and HIET Work Together for Superior Heart Care

St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Cardiac Rehabilitation hosted the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Power Networking Breakfast in February. Ravinder Bachireddy, M.D., Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and President of the Heart Institute of East Texas (HIET), spoke to the crowd of more than 70 businessmen and women about the growing need for superior cardiovascular care and how the HIET physicians and St. Luke’s Health-Memorial are working together to meet the needs of the community.

The ever-changing health care landscape includes reform from the Affordable Health Care Act, decreased profitability for hospitals and physicians with increased costs and lower reimbursements, and an increased competition for fewer health care dollars.

Combining that with poor health rankings in deep East Texas, St. Luke’s Health-Memorial and the Heart Institute of East Texas are working together to better the community’s overall cardiovascular health. 

“Our mission and our vision is to provide high quality, low cost cardiovascular care to the East Texas community and improve patient satisfaction,” Dr. Bachireddy said. “Blending our two cultures helps us create a collaborative service line and respond quickly to changes in health care.”

Together, the two organizations have developed specialty clinics, such as the Advanced Heart Failure Center, Cardiac Rehabilitation, the Chest Pain Center and the Vein and Vascular Clinic, and spread community awareness about the No. 1 killer in America – heart disease. By balancing the physicians’ and hospital’s individual responsibilities, the collaborative approach ultimately benefits the overall community.

“By working together, we have the opportunity to shape the future of health care delivery in East Texas and to become a Regional Medical Center and a Center of Excellence,” Dr. Bachireddy said.

Dr. Bachireddy also reminded the crowd that exercise, a well-balanced diet, annual check-ups and changing negative lifestyle habits are the keys to a healthy heart.