Florida cardiology practices unite with help from private equity-backed cardiovascular group

Michael Walter | January 29, 2024 | Cardiovascular Business | Mergers & Acquisitions

Two neighboring cardiology practices in Florida are joining forces to form a bigger, more expansive entity managed by Cardiovascular Logistics, a private equity-backed national cardiovascular platform.

First Coast Cardiovascular Institute (FCCI) employs dozens of general cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, sleep medicine specialists and advanced practice nurses who work out of 11 different locations throughout northeast Florida. CardioHealth, meanwhile, is a single Jacksonville-based practice focused on providing bilingual care to patients with hypertension, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation and other cardiovascular conditions.

Under this new arrangement, FCCI will integrate CardioHealth’s team into its own practice. Cardiovascular Logistics, launched in 2023 by the Cardiovascular Institute of the South and Lee Equity Partners, will support the new-look group, providing funding and improved access to technologies designed to boost cardiac care.

“This collaboration between FCCI and CardioHealth marks a significant milestone for both practices,” David Konur, CEO of Cardiovascular Logistics, said in a prepared statement. “By joining together and leveraging their complementary strengths while receiving additional support from Cardiovascular Logistics, they are well positioned to continue delivering outstanding care to patients in northeast Florida.”

“Through this partnership and integration with FCCI, CardioHealth is enhancing our non-invasive practice model to one encompassing interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and structural heart disease, which will enable our team to deliver high-quality care to more patients,” added Ramon Castello, MD, CardioHealth founder and director of non-invasive cardiology at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital.

Private equity’s impact in cardiovascular care

The rise of private equity continues to be one of the biggest trends in all of healthcare, and its presence in cardiology seems to be growing by the day. Florida has been perhaps the most active market in the United States when it comes to this increased focus on private equity investments; Orlando-based Cardiovascular Associates of America, for instance, expanded its footprint in the Sunshine State several times in 2023.

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Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

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