October 1, 2026
We know many of you have likely seen media coverage regarding the legal matters between Ellis Medicine and St. Peter’s. We recognize this coverage may raise questions and wanted to help address them directly. We also understand how important the relationship with your physician is and know the situation may be confusing. Cardiology Associates of Schenectady (CAS) has been part of St. Peter’s since 2021. CAS physicians have provided care at Ellis Medicine through an agreement between the organizations. Some CAS physicians have been recruited by Ellis and are expected to transition there at the end of December, while others will remain with our CAS medical group.
St. Peter's Reaffirms Commitment to Patients and Access to Cardiovascular Care
While we don't believe legal disputes should be played out in the media, misleading and inaccurate claims require correction.
In keeping with our longstanding partnership across the communities we serve, St. Peter's offered an approach that would have allowed cardiology services to continue at Ellis. Ellis rejected that offer. We were also disappointed to learn the extent of the efforts made to undermine our good faith attempts to reach a solution. Two physician leaders in positions of trust broke that trust by providing confidential business information, including confidential employment and compensation information of their fellow physicians, to Ellis leadership for recruitment purposes. Such conduct could not go unaddressed; we have an obligation to protect our business and employee information.
For patients, nothing has changed. They should continue seeing their physicians and following their current care plans. We have a strong cardiovascular program in place and remain focused on ensuring patients have access to high-quality cardiovascular care close to where they live and work. We understand the importance of the relationship between patients and their physicians and have no intention of disrupting those relationships. While patients' care locations may change after December based on decisions made by Ellis Medicine, we will support patients throughout the process and make it easy for those who wish to transfer their records.
We know that competition for physicians is real and rebuilding will take time. While we continue to grow our cardiovascular team, we are committed to doing so with integrity and in a manner consistent with our values. At the same time, we strongly believe a collaborative solution is in the best interest of the patients and communities we serve.
Steven Hanks, MD, MMM, FACP, FFSMB
President & CEO
St. Peter’s Health Partners
Patient Q&A
1. Will my cardiac care be interrupted?
For patients, nothing has changed. They should continue seeing their physicians and following their current care plans. We will support patients continued care regardless of where they receive that care.
2. Will I be able to continue seeing my current Cardiology Associates of Schenectady (CAS) physician if I choose?
Our priority is helping patients continue to receive the cardiac care they need. We understand patient/provider relationships are very personal, and our goal is to ensure patients have what they need, regardless of what choice they make.
We can connect patients with a physician in our CAS medical group to continue care. If a patient prefers to receive care with a physician leaving CAS and moving to Ellis Medicine, we will support that transition, including the transfer of the patient’s medical record.
3. Is St. Peter’s still providing cardiac services in Schenectady and the surrounding communities?
Yes. St. Peter’s remains committed to the Capital Region and continues to provide comprehensive cardiovascular services. We are actively investing in heart care and recruiting additional physicians to serve patients in Schenectady, Amsterdam, Gloversville, and surrounding communities.
Our walk-in clinics remain open and we welcome new and established patients at those locations: St. Peter's Health Partners Walk-In Heart Clinics | St. Peter's Health Partners
4. What is St. Peter’s doing to strengthen cardiac care in the region?
St. Peter’s is actively recruiting physicians and investing in cardiovascular services throughout the region. We recognize that recruiting specialists takes time, but we are committed to strengthening access to care while maintaining our standards of quality and integrity.
5. How can patients get help or ask questions about their care?
Patients with questions about appointments, providers, medical records, or ongoing treatment should contact their St. Peter’s cardiology office directly. Our team is available to help patients understand their options and ensure they continue receiving the care they need. Patients are also encouraged to visit our online patient portal, MyChart Patient Portal | Albany, NY, where they can communicate with their care team.