Community Medical Center had applied to the New Jersey Department of Health for approval for cardiac surgery in July. The hospital had applied twice before but had been denied both times. The hospital claimed the community needed an additional cardiac center because its county has the largest senior population in the state and patients have to travel up to 30 miles for heart surgery.
In response, Joseph P. Chirichella, president and CEO of the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, N.J., called on Community Medical Center in September to partner instead of seeking to establish another cardiac program. Deborah officials said another cardiac center would threaten Deborah’s ability to continue providing care and that decreases in cardiac surgery volume in the state did not warrant an additional heart surgery program, according to the report.
In a letter to the state announcing its application withdrawal, Community Medical Center cited an announcement by Health Commissioner Mary E. O’Dowd that the department will formally review the state’s current and future cardiac services, according to the report.
More Articles on Community Medical Center and Cardiology:
Deborah Heart and Lung Center CEO Calls on Hospital to Partner Instead of Seeking Cardiac Surgery CON
Community Medical Center in NJ Seeks to Add Cardiac Surgery
3 NJ Townships Call State to Approve Cardiac Surgery at Community Medical Center
