FRMC and UK HealthCare announce partnership to enhance cardiovascular services in Frankfort

Frankfort Regional Medical Center (FRMC) and UK HealthCare (UKHC) announced a strategic partnership to enhance and expand the scope of cardiovascular services offered at Frankfort Regional.

Physicians from UKHC’s Gill Heart & Vascular Institute now provide 24/7 coverage for cardiac emergencies, including elective procedures in FRMC’s cardiac catheterization lab. Additionally, UK cardiologists will provide services to inpatients and outpatients, including electrophysiology consultations, and provide patient education and training.

“We are thrilled to partner with UK HealthCare’s team to expand our cardiovascular services at Frankfort Regional,” said Reed Hammond, CEO of Frankfort Regional Medical Center. “Through this partnership, residents of Frankfort and the surrounding areas will have much needed access to high-quality, state-of-the-art emergent cardiovascular care right here in our own community."

“We are excited to embark on this new partnership with FRMC around cardiovascular services,” said Susan Smyth, MD, PhD, Director of the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute and Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at UK HealthCare. “Our shared mission is to provide the highest quality of care, which will be accomplished building on FMRC's "Patients First” focus that has resulted in their exceptional care delivery and reputation.”

UKHC’s Gill Heart & Vascular Institute is a nationally recognized leader in the field of cardiovascular care, recently ranking the best hospital in Kentucky by US News and World Report. With multiple national accreditations, UKHC employs 16 cardiovascular physicians who were named to The Best Doctors in America.

“This has all the makings of a wonderful marriage,” said Adrian Messerli, MD, Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at UK HealthCare. “We will couple the fantastic local reputation of FRMC with the expansive expertise and care capabilities at the University of Kentucky. I am certain that this will be a huge boon to the citizens of Frankfort and neighboring counties. I am thrilled to be participating in this venture.”

UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute is at the forefront in the battle against heart disease and stroke in Kentucky. The goal is to provide every patient with exceptionally compassionate care in a safe and appropriate manner based on the best evidence and the latest technological advances. As part of these measures, UKHC’s Gill Heart & Vascular Institute works with a large number of affiliate network hospitals to enhance access to high-quality cardiovascular care and to provide the right care in the right place at the right time. The Affiliate Network includes 16 hospitals and 12 outreach locations, including FRMC, which joined the network in 2018.

Frankfort Regional, an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI, will continue to provide the advanced technology and expertise to care for a wide range of needs, from emergent conditions like heart attacks and chest pain, to diagnostic and preventative care.