Newest specialty group ‘ready to go’ at WRH

With the addition of Cardiovascular Associates to its growing list of specialists, Whitfield Regional Hospital again is offering quality medical care close to home.

And, as chairman of Cardiovascular Associates’ board, Dr. John T. (Tom) Eagan Jr., puts it, “We’re ready to go!”

Nine members of the large group of cardiac specialists will see patients in the WRH Specialty Clinic on a rotating basis four days a week, Eagan said. He will be among them. A board-certified cardiologist, he has an extensive background in invasive and interventional cardiac, peripheral vascular and venous interventions.

So well respected is Eagan that he and his wife Kendall have been named as honorees for the 2022 Birmingham Heart Ball. In their roles they will push for equitable health for all Birmingham residents and raise funds to support the work of the American Heart Association.

Eagan’s father, also a cardiologist, practiced medicine for 60 years.

“I always wanted to be like my dad,” said his son.

The partnership with Cardiovascular Associates has been in the planning stages for about two years. Dr. Eagan said the staff began seeing patients Sept. 2 and is getting oriented to the hospital and its personnel. He is impressed with the great facility, the caring and capable medical staff and plans for the development of the hospital. He also sees an area in need of their expertise.

“I think we can add our cardiovascular specialty services to this community and help build the hospital to be really a leader in this area,” he said. “We are going to be able to bring all the sub-specialists in cardiology right here. The patient, the community and Demopolis will have access to world-class experts right here at their hospital.”

Having the team of cardiologists in Demopolis saves heart patients from having to travel an hour or more for appointments and minor procedures, Eagan continued. He confirmed that any major surgery would be conducted in a tertiary facility, but as the clinic grows locally, the group plans to add other services.

WRH is the newest outreach clinic run by Cardiovascular Associates in the state. Eagan said the group is especially glad to be in Demopolis since there are a lot of stressors in rural communities.

“There are a lot of communities around Alabama that are still in need. I think Whitfield is very fortunate, one, to have UAB here, and two, now to have Cardiovascular Associates,” he said. “You guys are going to be way ahead of the game.”

Cardiovascular Associates, a partner with Tenet Health Care, is the first and oldest cardiology group in Alabama, having started 80 years ago.

Cardiology has come a long way both in technology and in the medications used to treat heart disease, Eagan continued. His group is very involved in clinical research and will offer Demopolis patients the opportunity to take part in studies of procedures and new drugs if they desire.