ASHEVILLE, N.C., Feb. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Extended Care Physicians (ECP), the Southeast’s largest geriatric physician practice working in the long-term care setting, announced today that it has acquired the clinical assets of South Carolina-based Network Geriatric Services (NGS).

The move adds 10 physicians and nurse practitioners into a practice group called ECP-SC, extending the ECP footprint into new markets in South Carolina. The new ECP-SC group serves the populations of more than 25 Nursing Homes, assisted living facilities and Hospices throughout the region. In addition, the physicians of ECP-SC are actively engaged in geriatrics-related research and medical student training.

“For decades, Network Geriatric Services has been a leader in providing progressive and compassionate medical care to the elderly and other long-term care patients. We are excited to have such high-caliber providers join the expanding ECP family,” said Robert J. Reynolds, MD, CEO of ECP.

With the NGS acquisitions, ECP now has 65 physicians and nurse practitioners working in more than 100 facilities in the Mountains, Piedmont and Coastal regions of North Carolina and in Upstate South Carolina.

“Because of ECP’s expertise in working in long-term healthcare, their experience in recruiting providers and their innovative use of technology, including the electronic health record gEHRiMed, our physicians can focus exclusively on providing quality patient care and medical direction to the facilities we serve,” said Chris Patterson, MD, President of NGS.

Founded in 2000, ECP specializes in providing and managing primary and post-acute medical care in the long-term care environment. Its affiliate, Geriatric Practice Management (GPM), develops systems and technological tools specifically for use in LTC, including gEHRiMed, a Drummond-certified electronic health record.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lydia Carrington, 828.231.1793 or lydia@brucemont.com

SOURCE Extended Care Physicians