YAKIMA, Wash.-- For the first time in 40 years, the Yakima Heart Center is partnering with Memorial Hospital to provide care.
The center previously worked independently of both Memorial and Yakima Regional Hospitals, but the new healthcare law forced the center to pool their resources with Memorial.
The hospital now has a presence in the heart center building. Officials say the change was a good move for the community.
"We are not employed by them... we're not tied to them as an employee... We can still treat patients at both hospitals," says Heart Center Medical Director Dr. Roger Vielbig.
The change will also help speed up communication between the hospitals and the heart center.
They say doctors can follow heart patients between all three agencies better and keep track of anyone having problems.
