OSF Saint Anthony's Continued Flexing Its Cardiology Services Specialty Program 'Muscle' in 2025

Hospital bolsters cardiac care with new technology, strategic affiliation, and increased patient volumes

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony's Health Center in Alton, Illinois continued to strengthen its cardiology services specialty program in 2025 by investing in state-of-the-art technology, expanding its strategic affiliation with SSM Health, and seeing significant increases in patient volumes across various cardiac care services.

Why it matters

A robust cardiology program is crucial for any hospital, as heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. OSF Saint Anthony's is ensuring residents in the Riverbend region have access to high-quality, innovative cardiac care close to home.

The details

The OSF Saint Anthony's Heart Center cardiac catheter lab added new technology that can reduce contrast agent exposure, increase operational availability, and shorten procedure times. The hospital also grew its team of cardiologists through an ongoing affiliation with SLUCare Physician Group, part of SSM Health. This led to increases in echocardiograms, interventional cardiology lab procedures, transesophageal echocardiograms, and inpatient transfers to the SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.

  • In 2025, OSF Saint Anthony's saw a 3% increase in echocardiograms (second consecutive year of increased volume).
  • In 2025, OSF Saint Anthony's saw a 51% increase in interventional cardiology lab monthly procedures (second consecutive year of increased volume).
  • In 2025, OSF Saint Anthony's saw a 70% increase in transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) with cardioversion procedures.
  • In 2025, OSF Saint Anthony's saw a 28% increase in inpatient transfers to SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.

The players

Dennis E. Sands, M.D.

Chief medical officer, OSF Saint Anthony's.

Jeremy Fotheringham

Regional President, SSM Health.

Meredith Walter, MSN, ANP-BC

Nurse practitioner at the OSF Medical Group - Cardiology clinic offices.

Margy Goetten, NP, RN, MSN, BSN

Nurse practitioner at the OSF Medical Group - Cardiology clinic offices.

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What they’re saying

“A strong cardiology services specialty program is vital to any hospital of any size, no matter its geographic location. Our cardiology service line remains a top strategic priority. Having a strong cardiology program is crucial because it ensures access to high-quality, specialized care for patients with heart conditions, potentially leading to improved outcomes, better diagnosis and treatment options, and a positive impact on community health by addressing the leading cause of death in many populations - cardiovascular disease.”

— Dennis E. Sands, M.D., Chief medical officer, OSF Saint Anthony's (riverbender.com)

“By fully embracing our meaningful collaboration with SLUCare Physician Group, we're able to bring exceptional medical and surgical cardiologists to the Riverbend region. Doing so ensures that residents have more convenient access to high-quality, sustainable, and innovative cardiac care.”

— Dennis E. Sands, M.D., Chief medical officer, OSF Saint Anthony's (riverbender.com)

“OSF Saint Anthony's and SSM Health share a commitment of delivering high-quality, compassionate, and affordable care to our communities. Our strategic affiliation with OSF Saint Anthony's allows us to bring the expertise of our heart care team at SLUCare Physician Group to the Alton community. Together, we're making sure every patient gets exceptional care that is local, integrated, and accessible to the latest innovations in cardiac care and treatment.”

— Jeremy Fotheringham, Regional President, SSM Health (riverbender.com)

What’s next

The hospital plans to continue investing in its cardiology services specialty program, including exploring additional strategic partnerships and technology upgrades to provide the best possible cardiac care to the Riverbend region.

The takeaway

OSF Saint Anthony's is demonstrating its commitment to being a leader in cardiovascular care by continuously enhancing its cardiology services, leveraging innovative technology, and expanding its team of expert cardiologists. This ensures residents in the Alton area have access to high-quality, comprehensive heart care close to home.