Saint Thomas Health Signs New Contract for Emergency Room Physician Staffing

Saint Thomas Health has signed a new contract for emergency room physician staffing with American Physician Partners, a Brentwood, Tennessee-based company, at four regional hospitals: Saint Thomas Stones River; Saint Thomas Highlands; Saint Thomas DeKalb; and Saint Thomas River Park. Saint Thomas Health is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system.
“Our goal, as always, is to provide great customer service for our patients, and that means demonstrating compassion, respect and courtesy as we deliver the best care in an efficient manner,” said Andy Wachtel,
President and CEO at Saint Thomas Stones River, Saint Thomas Highlands and Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospitals. “We’re very excited about this new partnership, especially since it’s local to the middle Tennessee area, which gives us more direct contact with leadership there.” The changeover at these three hospitals occurred March 19. American Physician Partners began its work with Saint Thomas River Park April 19.
“We’re looking forward to working with this group,” said Dale Humphrey, President and CEO of Saint Thomas River Park Hospital. “Our focus is to deliver excellent care in the Emergency Department, which we define as a high quality experience from the reception area until discharge, grounded in care, efficiency and the best possible outcome.”
American Physician Partners works with hospitals to deliver a “world class” patient experience, focusing on team-oriented care with the highest quality, and compassionate and courteous care. The growing organization serves hospitals throughout the United States, and is led by experienced hospital operators and seasoned ER/Hospitalist physicians.
ABOUT SAINT THOMAS HEALTH
In Tennessee, Ascension’s Saint Thomas Health operates nine hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities that cover a 68-county area and employ more than 8,000 associates. Across the state, Saint Thomas Health provided more than $78 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2016. Serving Tennessee for 15 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, operating 2,500 sites of care – including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.sthealth.com.