Jefferson City Medical Group will close its Cardiology Specialty Services department Dec. 31, the physicians’ group confirmed Thursday.
JCMG made the decision because of several factors, most notably a shortage of cardiologists in Mid-Missouri.
“Cardiologists are increasingly choosing to sub-specialize in a particular area that may not be well-suited to the broad-based practice required in our more rural area,” JCMG Chief Operation Officer Ben Vallier said. “Most cardiologists now choose to be employed with larger hospital systems, rather than going into private practice.”
Vallier said the retirement of a key doctor and the unexpected departure of another contributed heavily to the decision.
JCMG is one of the largest privately held multi-specialty medical practices in the Midwest, with more than 100 providers in 28 medical and surgical specialties providing care to nearly 100,000 patients every year.
JCMG spokeswoman Alaina Winship said no jobs will be cut because of the closure and all affected employees have been offered employment in other departments.
The medical group will continue to provide cardiac diagnostic services including echocardiograms, nuclear and exercise stress tests, and pulmonary function testing. For all other cardiac care, JCMG will help patients transition to other local and regional cardiology providers over the coming months.
JCMG President Dr. Jeff Patrick said patient care will not diminish because of this decision.