Anesthesiologists team with St. Luke’s

CEDAR RAPIDS — Linn County Anesthesiologists, the area’s only anesthesiology practice, has formed an “exclusive partnership” with UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital effective Jan. 1.

Linn County Anesthesiologists, based in Hiawatha, has 47 doctors providing anesthesia services during surgeries and supporting acute pain management following procedures.

“We are thrilled to partner with this group of highly skilled and specially trained anesthesiologists,” Casey Greene, president of UnityPoint Health-Cedar Rapids, said in announcing the partnership last week. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional health care and ensures patients in our community have continued access to innovative and high-quality surgical care right here in Cedar Rapids.”

Dr. Scott LeGrand, president of Linn County Anesthesiologists, said St. Luke’s “offers the ideal environment to elevate the level of care we provide. … Both organizations are committed to a smooth transition that minimizes any disruption to patient care.”

He said the anesthesiologists will continue to work with Surgery Center Cedar Rapids, which is associated with St. Luke’s.

Mercy’s plans

Mercy Medical Center of Cedar Rapids said in a statement that Linn County Anesthesiologists will continue serving Mercy patients through the end of their contract on Jan. 31 and “possibly for an extended period beyond that date.”

“Patient procedures will continue at Mercy as scheduled” during the transition, according to the statement.

Mercy said it is setting up its own anesthesiology services program early in 2025 to ensure that it ”has all the staffing needed to meet its growing surgical demand,“ the statement concluded. ”Mercy has a successful history of transitioning to in-house services, including cardiology and gastroenterology.”