Athens (Ga.) Heart Center and surgeon Subodh Agrawal, MD, have been ordered by a state court jury to pay $4.36 million in medical malpractice damages following the 2017 death of a patient, according to a Feb. 14 report from the Athens Banner-Herald. 

From partnerships to a new ASC, here are six cardiology updates Becker's has reported on since May 3:

Cardiologists have differing views on several medical issues, including Medicare, physician-assisted death and vaccinations, according to a Feb. 3 report from Medscape based on a survey of more than 4,100 practicing physicians.

Healthcare data provider Veradigm and data privacy leader HealthVerity have entered a collaboration for research and patient care for patients with cardiovascular disease. 

Johnson City, Tenn.-based Ballad Health has opened an outpatient cardiology clinic at the Norton (Va.) Community Hospital Healthplex, according to a Feb. 8 report from Times News.

Houston-based cardiovascular physician practice Orion Medical has partnered with US Heart and Vascular, a management services organization formed in 2021 with cardiovascular practice affiliates in Arizona, Kansas and Texas.

HCA Florida Northwest Hospital in Margate has completed its first elective trans-carotid artery revascularization procedure, according to a Feb. 6 report from South Florida Hospital News. 

Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Allegheny Health Network has opened a cardio-obstetrics clinic dedicated to individuals with heart disease who are pregnant, trying to conceive or postpartum. 

The Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis has received a $200,000 grant from the Department of Defense to study a common congenital heart defect in babies. 

February is American Heart Month, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are five things to know about the 2023 cardiovascular health campaign:

Oklahoma has the highest rate of heart disease deaths of any state in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Houma, La.-based Cardiovascular Institute of the South has partnered with private equity firm Lee Equity Partners to launch a national platform called Cardiovascular Logistics. 

The Laredo (Texas) Medical Center plans to invest $6.9 million to enhance its heart and vascular program, according to a Jan. 30 report from Laredo Morning Times. 

Here are the 10 most-read cardiology updates reported by Becker's in January:

Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD, a physician at Dallas-based University of Texas Southwestern, received the outstanding investigator award from the National Institutes of Health for his research on heart failure treatments. 

Cambridge, Mass.-based Implicity, a medtech company providing remote care solutions for cardiac patients, plans to expand internationally through a new partnership with the German Society for Cardiologists in Private Practice. 

Here are four newly opened or proposed cardiology-focused ASCs reported by Becker's since Jan. 12:

Private equity backed Cardiovascular Associates of America has added Travis Stamper as its vice president of ASC development, effective immediately. 

Weirton (W.Va.) Medical Center has been named the top cardiology program in the state by hospital quality reviewer Carechex, according to a Jan. 24 report from NBC/Fox affiliate WTOV9. 

Self-employed cardiologists earn more than their employed counterparts in three major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, according to Medscape's physician salary explorer.