UK Gill Heart Institute Partners with ARH, Manchester Memorial Hospital to Provide Expanded Heart Care Services

MANCHESTER, Ky. (Aug. 29, 2014) -- Manchester Memorial Hospital (MMH), ARH Cardiology Associates and the University of Kentucky's Gill Heart Institute announced today they have partnered to offer Clay County and surrounding areas access to advanced cardiology services.

According to Erica Skula, Manchester Memorial Hospital CEO, as part of the partnership, Dr. Keerthana Karumbaiah, a general cardiologist, is now practicing at the Memorial Hospital and accepting patients at the Manchester Memorial Cardiology Clinic.

"We are excited about expanding our outpatient services in collaboration with ARH and the Gill Heart Institute. This allows us to offer quality heart care with convenience of location to our community and the surrounding areas,” Skula said.

Robert Stivers, Kentucky Senate President, expressed his support for the partnership.

“By working together, ARH, the UK Gill Heart Institute and Manchester Hospital have reaffirmed their commitments to providing the best healthcare possible – while at the same time making quality and life-saving heart care accessible on a local level,” Stivers said.

“I am glad that the people of Clay County and surrounding counties no longer have to travel to other areas for these services,” Stivers said. “The more we can provide locally, the better for our community.”

Dr. Eli Capilouto, president of the University of Kentucky, said the partnership was a fitting reflection of the university's mission.

“For nearly 150 years, we have been committed to finding solutions that shape a better future for the people and communities we serve as Kentucky’s land-grant and flagship institution. The expert medical care provided through this partnership is guided by that same philosophy,” Capilouto said.

Dr. Michael Karpf, UK Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, emphasized that providing cardiac services close to home was in the best interest of patients and their families.

"It has long been our goal to be Kentucky's resource for highly complex quaternary care, so that patients don't have to go out of state for the best treatments available.  But it makes the most sense for those same patients to be cared for locally whenever possible," Karpf said. "Our partnership with MMH and ARH Cardiology Associates makes this a reality for the people of Clay county and surrounding counties."

ARH and the Gill Heart Institute joined forces last year in a collaboration aimed at improving access to tools for the diagnosis and treatment for cardiovascular diseases, according to Dr. Susan Smyth, director of the Gill Heart Institute.

"What started as a conversation about how to provide the highest quality cardiovascular care locally has transformed into a healthy collaboration among these three institutions," Smyth said.  “Quality cardiovascular care – available in close proximity to the patients we serve – is a critical need in the region and the Gill Heart Institute is proud to work with Manchester Memorial Hospital and Appalachian Regional Health in that effort.”

Joe Grossman, ARH President and CEO, emphasized that the partnership builds upon the solid foundation of quality health care services already available in Clay County. “As ARH continues to grow the services we provide, we recognize the benefits of joining with other healthcare providers such as UK HealthCare and Manchester Memorial to strengthen the level and availability of care our patients are able to receive in their local communities,” Grossman said. “As a team, we are providing patients access to ARH’s exceptional medical professionals and UK’s comprehensive cardiovascular expertise and resources, while maintaining the familiarity of community health care providers.”

Board certified in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology, Karumbaiah earned her medical degree at the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute in India and completed her internal medicine residency at the SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York. She has also completed her cardiology fellowship at University of South Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, Alabama.