Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System, a system known in the state for its heart hospital, is losing 12 cardiologists to Atlanta-based Northside Hospital, according to a report from the Gainesville Times.
The report did not specify why the cardiologists are leaving, but the departures come as Northside works to grow cardiology services ahead of a merger with Gwinnett Medical Center, which is also based in the metro Atlanta area.
The departing cardiologists include the chairman of the heart hospital at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Jeff Marshall, MD. The Heart Center at NGMC has 26 remaining physicians and 42 advanced practice providers on staff and is actively recruiting to backfill the vacancies, according to the report.
Louis Smith, president of system acute and post-acute operations at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville, told the Gainesville Times patients still have options within The Heart Center, and the only anticipated disruption is a temporary freeze on cardiac catheterizations at its Braselton, Ga., location.
The Heart Center has 15 locations in Georgia.
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