Samaritan Health adds cardiology practice to its network

Samaritan Cardiology, formerly Cardiology Associates of Northern New York, remainsat its current location with the same providers, Dr. James Willis and physician assistant Kate Symenow. Samaritan Cardiology is located at 19436 Howell Drive, suite A in Watertown.

Samaritan’s announcement didn’t include any of the deal’s financial details.

Dr. Willis, founder of Cardiology Associates, has been practicing in the region for 38 years and is committed to making sure the medical practice continues on as he looks forward to retirement.

“I have built this practice and care deeply for my patients, so it is my number one concern that we remain in operation,” Willis said in a Samaritan Health news release. “After considering many partners, Samaritan was selected as they are as committed to this community as I am. The transition has gone smoothly, and it is evident to me that they want this to be successful.”

The deal with Samaritan will “ensure this continuum of care will occur,” as it was done with succession planning and physician recruitment in mind, Samaritan Health contended. Recruitment for new cardiology specialists is underway.

Samaritan said it hasn’t operated an outpatient cardiology practice prior to this partnership but has worked with local private physicians to ensure that cardiology services were available to hospital patients.

“We were not actively seeking this new partnership, but it is the right thing to do to keep this service in the community where it is very much needed,” Tom Carman, president and CEO of Samaritan Medical Center, said in the release. “We have begun to recruit more cardiology providers to help serve the community, as there is a need and currently a long wait time for new patients.”