Franciscan St. Francis Health and Cardiac Surgery Associates announce integration

INDIANAPOLIS – As part of Franciscan St. Francis Health’s commitment to offer the most dynamic and innovative program for the treatment of vascular disorders, the hospital has announced an expanded partnership with Cardiac Surgery Associates, S.C. (CSA), one of the largest, most respected and experienced cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery practices in the nation.

Effective Oct. 1, management and operations of the St. Francis Medical Group Vascular Surgeons practice transitioned to CSA. CSA also now manage and conduct all readings for the accredited Franciscan St. Francis Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory.

As Franciscan St. Francis’ trusted partner in cardiac and vascular care for the past five years, CSA and the St. Francis Medical Group Indiana Heart Physicians (IHP) will build upon their already successful professional collaboration and develop a fully integrated, multispecialty center where cardiovascular surgeons, endovascular specialists, noninvasive vascular specialists, diagnosticians and other specialists will provide the most comprehensive diagnostic interventional and surgical services for vascular disorders.

“This integration will help grow Franciscan St. Francis Health’s national reputation for quality and compassionate patient care,” said Marc Gerdisch, M.D., chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, St. Francis Heart Center. “It is an expansion of our already remarkably successful collaborative approach to cardiac disease, which has grown tremendously in the past five years. Now an all-encompassing program will include treatment and research for the full spectrum vascular disorders.”

One of the nation’s top cardiac and vascular surgery groups, CSA is an independent practice with 29 surgeons and is also a long-standing clinical partner of Franciscan

St. Francis Health. CSA performs more than 3,500 open heart surgeries – 500 at the St. Francis Heart Center – and 3,200 vascular, thoracic and other surgeries annually.

IHP is the first and largest provider of cardiovascular care on Indianapolis’ south side and has 26 board-certified cardiologists specializing in peripheral vascular disease, electrophysiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, interventional cardiology and clinical cardiology.

“With Dr. Gerdisch’s leadership, our cardiac and vascular surgery team has developed many new treatment approaches to ensure patients receive access to world-class care,” said Robert J. Brody, CEO and president of Franciscan St. Francis Health. “CSA surgeons are among the best in the world, pioneering next-generation devices and technology.”

Both the surgical office and the Franciscan St. Francis Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory will remain in the same location, and a centralized scheduling number (317-851-2323) allows easy, convenient scheduling for patients and physicians.