The five cardiologists were part of Johnson City-based Tri-State Cardiology, which had a contract with MSHA that prohibited other cardiology groups from practicing at MSHA facilities.
When Tri-State Cardiology merged with Wellmont CVA Heart Institute in October, the cardiologists’ privileges at MSHA were revoked, forcing their MSHA patients to choose either a new hospital or a new cardiologist.
Before merging with 40-physician Wellmont CVA, which is part of Wellmont Health System, Tri-State Cardiology was in talks to become employed by MSHA. Mark Chang, MD, a founder and president of Tri-State Cardiology, said Tri-State chose Wellmont CVA partly because it had already integrated with a health system and because it expanded the number of physicians and physician services available to Tri-State’s patients, according to the report.
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