"Region's Top Cardiology Practices form ONE Exceptional Team"
So reads the ad as of February 8, 2026. St. Peter's Cardiology Associates is now the largest cardiology group in upstate New York. and the EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER of inpatient heart care at Samaritan Hospital.
This must be the result of the art of the medical deal.
Albany Associates in Cardiology notified their patients that starting January 1, 2026, they were beginning a TRANSITION, consolidating their practice to provide more consistent and comprehensive care to their patients and would no longer be offering inpatient services at Samaritan Hospital nor emergency catheterizations there, only those scheduled as outpatient. That the gold standard of care would occur at Albany Medical Center Hospital or St. Peter's.
I had concerns about how this change--transition--would affect patients who would be brought by rescue squad to nearest emergency room: if they needed emergency services in the cath lab, and that service is no longer provided at Samaritan, what would the transport elsewhere be, being aware that time is critical.
I called the tel. # provided for answers, but the person answering had no idea of what I was talking about. I posted the question on AAC's website, but received no response. I also asked the cardiologist at a scheduled visit and he said not to think about it. It didn't make sense to me that Albany Associates doctors would perform scheduled heart catheterizations at Samaritan ONLY on an outpatient basis. What if that patient had issues and needed to be admitted--would they be transported to Albany? How? Who? Etc.
A medical professional in another department said the potential closure or downgrading of Samaritan's services was "all about the money."
I've received no notification from Albany Associates in Cardiology, but it looks like they will be crossing the street to Samaritan more frequently, as before. If the truth be told.
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