Outside hospitals seek to block Gwinnett Medical Center’s new program

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Gwinnett Medical Center President & CEO Phil Wolfe said today he was “deeply disappointed” that three Atlanta hospitals are now trying to kill the Gwinnett hospital’s plans to offer open heart surgery at its Lawrenceville facility.

 Wolfe’s comment was in response to the fact that Piedmont Hospital, Emory University Hospital and Emory Crawford Long Hospital filed appeals with the Georgia Department of Community Health asking it to reverse its decision last month clearing the way for Gwinnett Medical Center to establish an open heart surgery program.

"Gwinnett County is the largest county in America without a hospital authorized to perform open heart surgery. It is ridiculous to suggest that someone suffering a heart attack in Suwanee or Dacula should be forced to drive to downtown Atlanta for treatment," said Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth).

 “During the state’s review process, all three hospitals made their case addressing the key points,” said Wolfe.  “But the Department of Community Health was clear and emphatic in its judgment that Gwinnett County is ripe for the establishment of its own program.  None of these hospitals are in a position to effectively serve our community nor are they prepared to do so in the future. However, we are confident that GMC will ultimately bring open heart to Gwinnett.”

Gwinnett Medical Center filed for a Certificate of Need for its open heart program in January 2008.  As a part of the state’s review process, other hospitals were afforded an opportunity to file opposition, which each of the three appealing hospitals did.  GMC received its approval in June, 2008.  In that decision, the Department of Community Health, in part, stated:

"Several hundred letters of support were submitted ... from all segments of the community ... the overriding theme of the letters from doctors was concern and angst over the limited care available to patients presenting at GMC, due to the absence of an open heart surgery program. Patient outcomes could have been much better if they did not have to be transferred or redirected to existing open heart surgery providers."

"The proposed project will improve the quality, access and overall efficiency of adult open heart surgery services available within the local health care delivery system."

“As Gwinnett County's traffic congestion continues to increase, the creation of an open heart surgery program at the center of the county significantly improves the ability of the residents of Gwinnett County to access timely care, thereby reducing heart damage and the likelihood of poor health outcomes."

About Gwinnett Medical Center

Gwinnett Hospital System, anchored by flagship Gwinnett Medical Center, is a not-for-profit healthcare network providing high quality facilities and services to Gwinnett and surrounding communities.  In 2007, Gwinnett Medical Center launched Project PATH, a comprehensive strategic initiative that is planning, advancing and transforming healthcare in Gwinnett County.  To learn more, visit www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org and www.openheartgwinnett.org.