Najla Bryant, Vice President of Operations, Specialty Services, Post-Acute Care
In alignment with TeamHealth’s mission to deliver exceptional care during life’s pivotal moments, the launch of our Cardiac Care program in Middle Tennessee represents an important step in strengthening post-acute care and improving outcomes for high-risk cardiac patients. Delivered through TeamHealth SmartPAC, the program brings a consistent, coordinated approach to post-acute care that supports better recovery and continuity for patients when it matters most.
Bringing Cardiac Expertise into Post-Acute Care
Our Cardiac Care program brings specialized, evidence-based cardiac expertise directly into post-acute care facilities through cardiology-trained advanced practice clinicians (APCs). Serving as on-site consultants, these clinicians support cardiac patients with proactive symptom management, frequent touchpoints, and coordinated care across primary care providers, community cardiologists, and facility nursing teams. As Dr. Keith Kadel, National Cardiac Care Program Director, explains, “Our program is designed as a consultative service. We utilize the experience of APCs who have been working in cardiology to be our on-site providers of cardiac expertise.”
Addressing a Critical Gap in Cardiac Care
The Cardiac Care program in Middle Tennessee addresses a longstanding gap in post-acute care. Patients with cardiac conditions often face complex treatment plans, fragmented communication, and limited access to timely specialty oversight, leading to preventable complications and often unnecessary hospital readmissions. “Cardiac diagnoses are among the most common for patients in post-acute care,” says Dr. Kadel. “The bad news: unsurprisingly, cardiac complications are also extremely common.” By embedding cardiac expertise directly where patients recover, TeamHealth’s program delivers continuous, specialized care that anticipates needs and improves outcomes.
Since its inception, the program has evolved into a structured, data-driven model with measurable results. In Delaware, facilities supported by the Cardiac Care program have seen rehospitalization rates drop from typical ranges of 20–30% into the teens and even single digits in top-performing sites. These outcomes demonstrate the program’s ability to reduce avoidable cardiac-related returns while creating a scalable model for expansion.
Why Middle Tennessee, Why Now
The decision to launch the Cardiac Care program in Middle Tennessee comes at a critical time. The region faces a rising cardiovascular burden, increasing pressure to succeed in value-based care models, and ongoing capacity constraints. Additionally, its mix of urban and rural communities, aging populations, and challenges with specialty access create gaps in care coordination that this program is uniquely positioned to address.
Enhancing Collaboration Across the Care Continuum
By introducing cardiology-trained APCs into post-acute facilities, we provide a dedicated cardiac consultant who helps ensure a seamless care experience. This approach enhances collaboration with primary care providers and community cardiologists, supports nursing teams managing complex patients, and improves the overall experience for patients and families.
Looking ahead, success for the Cardiac Care program in Middle Tennessee will be measured by reductions in cardiac-related readmissions and emergency department visits, along with improvements in symptom management, functional outcomes, and patient experience.
Ultimately, this expansion reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional, compassionate care at the moments that matter most. By bringing specialized cardiac expertise into the post-acute setting, TeamHealth is helping ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
