What You Should Know
- St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is collaborating with Auxira Health to integrate virtually-embedded teams into its Heart & Vascular network.
- The model provides each cardiologist with a virtual support team of nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and registered nurses to manage follow-ups and care coordination.
- The initiative launches with 24 cardiologists, with established plans to expand across multiple St. Luke’s locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
- The partnership aims to reduce after-hours EHR time and administrative burdens, allowing clinicians to focus on high-value patient interactions.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, impacting more than one in three adults. In the face of these rising clinical demands, St. Luke’s University Health Network—a non-profit system recently ranked as the top health system in the country for quality and safety—is rethinking the traditional cardiology workflow. By partnering with Auxira Health, St. Luke’s is introducing a physician-led, team-supported model designed to increase patient access without compromising the personal doctor-patient relationship.
The collaboration centers on a virtually embedded care team that handles the “digital friction” of modern medicine. These teams, comprised of advanced practice providers and medical assistants, take ownership of routine follow-ups, documentation, and care coordination. This structural shift is intended to protect the time cardiologists spend diagnosing and treating complex cases, ensuring that patients receive timely appointments in a landscape where heart disease mortality rates remain a significant public health challenge in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Seamless Integration into Existing Clinical Workflows
A critical component of the Auxira model is its ability to embed directly into St. Luke’s existing infrastructure. Rather than requiring physicians to learn new platforms, the virtual teams operate within the network’s current operational workflows and its Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system. This “invisible” integration is designed to streamline day-to-day tasks and reduce the significant amount of time clinicians typically spend on administrative work after hours.
By leveraging existing technology and staffing resources, the partnership allows St. Luke’s to scale its heart and vascular services across its 16 hospital campuses and 350+ outpatient sites. Dr. Ray Durkin, cardiology chair at St. Luke’s, noted that the collaboration strengthens the connection between patients and their doctors by surrounding them with a broader support system. This ensures that every patient receives the continuity of care they require while maintaining the high standards of a nationally recognized “Top 50 Heart Hospital”.
Prioritizing the Human Connection in a High-Tech Future
While the underlying technology is sophisticated, the primary goal of the collaboration is human-centered. Auxira’s model is built on the belief that the future of cardiology lies in strengthening—not replacing—the bond between patients and their physicians. By delegating administrative burdens to the virtual team, cardiologists can devote more individual attention to high-value patient moments. This approach is particularly valued by older patient populations who prioritize face-to-face time with their specialists.
The mission aligns with St. Luke’s legacy as a regional pioneer in cardiovascular medicine, dating back to the first open-heart surgery in the region in 1983. With a team-based care model, the network is working to ensure that its services remain sustainable for providers and accessible for the community. As heart disease projections suggest that half the adult population may be affected by 2035, this proactive shift toward an integrated, efficient care model represents a vital step in maintaining long-term community health.
