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Hospital sues state to prevent facilities from offering angioplasties

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 22, 2004

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Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ, is suing the state to prevent it from allowing some hospitals to perform elective angioplasties without having heart surgeons on site, according to The Star Ledger.

Filed December 15, the lawsuit attempts to overturn the state Department of Health and Senior Services' decision to allow up to six hospitals to participate in a nationwide, three-year study of the safety of angioplasty in hospitals that are not otherwise permitted to perform heart surgery.

Last winter, state health officials rejected applications from four hospitals to perform heart surgeries, arguing that any expansion would lessen the quality of care provided by the 17 hospitals that are licensed for this specialty, according to the article.

"I don't think any hospital has an interest in slowing down the innovative process, but there is real concern about the way this is moving forward, and the potential downside patients may not be aware of," said Susan Bonfield, attorney for Deborah Heart and Lung Center.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield was the first noncardiac surgery hospital to obtain permission and has performed 100 emergency angioplasties since September 2002, said spokesman Tom Casey. The hospital wanted to join the study because it provides "another great opportunity to bring a service to a minority population that receives a disproportionate share of these procedures," he said.

To read the article, click here.

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