Independent Heartbeats:
Welcome to your monthly pulse check on all things independent cardiology.
Last month, I took an invigorating cycling trip through Norway. The terrain was challenging and the views were unforgettable. But every mile meant choosing when to push ahead, when to pause, and which path to follow.
Cardiologists feel this push and pull almost every day. Employed doctors want more autonomy. Independent cardiologists seek partners to handle the “non-doctor” side of the practice. And patients seek our ongoing guidance to reduce the rising burden of cardiovascular disease.
Our road isn’t always smooth, but preparation makes the journey easier.
This month, we’re spotlighting news stories that explore the critical choices practices face today, and the opportunities that come with charting your own course.
Let’s dive in.
What Everyone’s Talking About
- At a glance: 65% percent of hospital- and private-equity-affiliated cardiology practices are actively exploring independence, according to this survey of 136 practices. Yet only 25% of affiliated groups feel prepared for such a transition, with nearly half feeling only “somewhat prepared.”
- Key takeaway: If you’re employed and thinking about a move toward independence, you’re in good company. On the road, we’re speaking to employed physicians around the nation who are feeling the pressure from the hospital or corporate system they’re a part of. The key to a successful transition is preparation. Not sure where to begin? We’d love to talk with you and share our experience of helping other practices make the leap.
- At a glance: 30% of medical practices say morale is better today than a year ago, while 28% say it’s worse, according to this MGMA Stat poll. But trouble is brewing: employee engagement dropped 31% in 2024, says a recent Gallup poll.
- Key takeaway : Staff engagement is linked to strong communication. If morale is sagging in your practice, these curated communication tips from our Director of People Operations, Rowda Mitwali, can help boost engagement and ultimately drive growth. Rowda is a rockstar recruiter for many of our practices–finding the best talent to help practices provide the optimal patient experience.
- At a glance: Physician autonomy and practice independence are among the top forces reshaping cardiology, according to this Becker’s ASC Review article. So are in-house CT scanners, which help enhance early detection of heart disease.
- Key takeaway: The trend toward practice autonomy, says the article, demands more collaborative practice models, such as partnerships with management services organizations. The best partners will lighten the administrative load on clinicians so they can spend more time focused on delivering patient care.
- At a glance: Rapid growth in PET imaging—including increased use in detecting cardiac sarcoidosis and inflammation/infection (e.g., endocarditis)—were top of mind at the ASNC’s 30th annual meeting.
- Key takeaway: Nuclear imaging’s expanding role in patient care presents an opportunity for practices to add advanced imaging services. Practice-based imaging is up to 10x cheaper than hospital outpatient department imaging, enhancing care quality while keeping healthcare costs under control.
- At a glance: The weight-loss drug semaglutide (Wegovy) cuts the risk of heart attack or stroke regardless of how much weight people lose, according to new research published in The Lancet. Shrinking waist size, a sign of less belly fat, is linked to better heart outcomes, per the study.
- Key takeaway: These findings have potential implications for cardiologists. Could we see a day where GLP-1s are prescribed for heart health indications for patients who are not obese, overweight, nor have type 2 diabetes?
CardioOne in the News
- CardioOne Featured on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew
I took a break from cycling to join our partner practice, Cardiovascular Specialists of New England (CSNE), for their TV debut on Lifetime’s Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew. Watch the video and find out what Drs. James Flynn and Fahad Gilani had to say about building their own practice from the ground up.
Few podcasts are as fun and informative as the Health Tech Talk Show. I had the chance to sit down with hosts Kat McDavitt and Lisa Bari to unpack value-based care and cardiology, the myth of interoperability for smaller practices, and the cost-value benefit of independent cardiology practices. Catch the full episode.
That’s it for this month. As always, we’ll be back with more news and insights next month. Interested in learning more about CardioOne and how we’re supporting independent cardiologists in the shift to value? Email me directly at jasen@cardioone.com or book time with us.