Stern Cardiovascular Joins Hands With Atria Health to Advance Cardiac Care

Cardiovascular medicine is undergoing significant consolidation as employment trends shift, with data indicating that almost 75% of cardiologists now work for hospitals or health systems. At the same time, consolidation driven by private equity continues to grow within the specialty. A 2024 survey conducted by MedAxiom found that nearly half of all independent cardiology practices had joined a private equity portfolio.

Even so, many cardiovascular groups still prefer to maintain their independence. Practice leaders, however, are navigating mounting financial issues, including dwindling reimbursement levels, increasing operating expenses and growing administrative demands.

Atria Health positions itself as an alternative approach to traditional private equity-backed consolidation, offering capital investment, operational expertise and strategic support aimed at helping independent practices expand while preserving their autonomy.

One example is Stern Cardiovascular, a Tennessee-based cardiology group that recently formed a strategic partnership with Atria Health intended to accelerate the practice’s expansion while allowing it to remain independent.

The physician-led group, founded more than a century ago and now among the largest cardiovascular practices in the United States, plans to collaborate with the healthcare services firm on a multi-stage growth strategy. According to executives from both organizations, the initiative is designed to broaden access to advanced cardiac information, rehabilitation programs and specialized cardiovascular care across the Mid-South. The practice currently runs 21 clinics spanning Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Atria Health launched nationally last year to partner with established independent cardiology groups seeking measured, long-term growth. The company is nearly 40% owned by physicians, according to its CEO and co-founder, Matthew Eakins.

Eakins said in an interview that independent cardiology groups that perform well, such as Stern, are able to provide high-quality care while keeping costs sustainable. He added that the goal is to help those practices maintain that performance as they navigate growing operational difficulties, heavier administrative workloads and the capital demands required to expand services and improve patient access within their local communities.

Eakins said in an interview that high-performing independent cardiology groups, such as Stern, are able to provide high-quality care while keeping costs sustainable. He added that the goal is to help those practices maintain that performance as they navigate growing operational complexity, heavier administrative workloads and the capital demands required to expand services and improve patient access within their local communities.

Stern Cardiovascular had previously operated as part of Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis, but the relationship shifted in January when the cardiology group moved to an independent clinic structure.

Steven Gubin, a cardiologist at Stern Cardiovascular and the practice’s president, said the group maintained a strong partnership with Baptist Memorial for over 10 years but ultimately sought greater opportunities to expand and extend its geographic footprint.

Gubin said the organization believes it can deliver even stronger care if it has access to greater resources. He explained that the group wanted to preserve the approach that has sustained it for more than a century, which is where the Atria model comes in handy.

Enhancing Cardiovascular Care Through Collaboration

The partnership between Stern Cardiovascular and Atria Health is designed to improve access to high-quality Cardiovascular services. By integrating advanced diagnostics and personalized treatment approaches, both organizations are committed to delivering comprehensive Cardiovascular care.