History

From its beginning, when Robert E. Swint, MD, founded Swint Cardiology, Lutheran Medical Group physicians have led the way in medical advances that have contributed to improved outcomes and a better quality of life for patients. The group's commitment to its founder's values and philosophy of placing patient needs first is the key to providing compassionate, personal and professional healthcare to all patients.

In May 2009, Lutheran Health Network formed Lutheran Medical Group. The Heart Center Medical Group was the first physician group to join LMG, an LHN entity that uses a physician-integration approach to patient care instead of the traditional employed-physician model. LMG combines expertise from both organizations to streamline patient-care delivery by:

• Removing access barriers.
• Creating a seamless flow of patient information across the care spectrum.
• Eliminating duplication of services.

1977	Swint Cardiology is founded by Robert E. Swint, MD. Dr. Swint practices in a 400-square-foot office in the Duemling Clinic with one nurse and one secretary.
1977	The first heart catheterization is performed.
1978	The first regional heart clinic opens in Paulding, Ohio
1979	Swint & Jones Cardiology is founded when Mark Jones, MD, joins Dr. Swint's practice.
1981	The first coronary angioplasty is performed.
1982	The practice is renamed Swint, Jones & Kaminskas when David Kaminskas, MD, joins the group.
1983	The group moves to its new space on South Wayne Street with five cardiologists and 10 staff members and changes its name to Cardiology Consultants.
1984	A regional heart clinic opens in Dekalb County.
1985	The first stress echocardiogram is performed.
1985	The group is part of the team that performs the first heart transplant at Lutheran Hospital.
1985	A regional heart clinic opens in Warsaw at Kosciusko Community Hospital.
1986	The first Automatic Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (AICD) is implanted.
1987	A regional heart clinic opens in Van Wert, Ohio.
1988	The first corporate wellness clinic in a private practice opens.
1988	The group, now with five cardiologists, renames itself The Heart Center Medical Group. Two more cardiologists join later that year.
1989	The first free-standing outpatient catheterization lab in Indiana opens.
1989	By the end of the year, 11 cardiologists make up HCMG.
1990	The first transesophageal echocardiogram is performed.
1991	HCMG, with 11 cardiologists, opens its new 49,000 square-foot facility at 7836 W. Jefferson Blvd.
1991	The first catheter ablation for heart rhythm is performed.
1992	A regional heart clinic opens in Adams County.
1993	HCMG adds pulmonology as its first subspecialty.
1996	Internal medicine is added as the second subspecialty.
1997	The first PerClose heart catheterization is performed.
1998	Gastroenterology is added as a subspecialty.
1998	Rheumatology is added as a subspecialty.
2001	HCMG opens a clinic at Dupont Hospital.
2002	Allergy/Immunology is added as a subspecialty.
2004	The first capsule endoscopy in northern Indiana is performed.
2004	The first External Counterpulsation (ECP) in northern Indiana is performed.
2004	The current 82,000 square-foot facility at 7916 W. Jefferson Blvd. opens with 38 physicians on staff.
2006	Infectious disease is added as a subspecialty.
2007	Hospitalist program begins at Lutheran Hospital.
2008	HCMG opens a clinic at Parkview Huntington Hospital in Huntington County.
2008	Hospitalist program begins at Dupont Hospital.
2009	HCMG joins the Lutheran Health Network and becomes Lutheran Medical Group.
2009	LMG opens a clinic in Wabash County.