The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is conducting an internal review to determine the medical appropriateness of approximately 400 cardiac stent procedures from June-Dec. 2010, according to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report.
The review includes roughly 80 cardiologists from four UPMC hospitals — Presbyterian, Shadyside, Mercy and Passavant — and was motivated by a high-profile case involving allegations of unnecessary stents at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Md., and a similar case at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, Pa.
In UPMC's review, called the Interventional Cardiology Quality Improvement Program, investigators will examine five randomly selected cases from the last six months of 2010 for each physician under review. The investigators expect to complete the review in two to four weeks.
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The review includes roughly 80 cardiologists from four UPMC hospitals — Presbyterian, Shadyside, Mercy and Passavant — and was motivated by a high-profile case involving allegations of unnecessary stents at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Md., and a similar case at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, Pa.
In UPMC's review, called the Interventional Cardiology Quality Improvement Program, investigators will examine five randomly selected cases from the last six months of 2010 for each physician under review. The investigators expect to complete the review in two to four weeks.
Related Articles on Allegations of Unnecessary Stent Procedures:
Lawsuit Alleges Catholic Health Initiatives Performed Unnecessary Heart ProceduresMaryland Hospital to Pay $1.8M to Settle Federal Claims That it Permitted Unnecessary Stent Procedures
Retired Cardiologist Convicted, Faces up to 35 Years in Prison for Unnecessary Stents, Fraudulent Billing