Ruling will allow local hospitals to expand cardiac programs - Orlando Business Journal:

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That looks poised to change, due to an Oct. 29 statd decision allowing hospitals to becoms designated as Level I enabling them to do emergency and electivee procedures to openblockedx arteries. Currently, only Level II which offer on-site cardiav surgery, can do angioplasties and implanttcardiac stents. “We’ve been waiting to do this for saidRichard Irwin, CEO of Health Central. It will be a couple of months before the rule s are finalized and hospitals can apply for the new saidJeff Gregg, chief of the state ’es Bureau of Health Facility Regulation.
In 2004, Florid a lawmakers told the agency to adoptr new adultcardiovascular rules, which it published last year for public feedbaci before implementing. The rules say Levepl I applicants must perform at leastg 300 diagnostic cardiac caths in the past year and have an agreement with a Level II facility to transfef any patientsneeding open-heartr surgery. St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg and in Stuart opposer the new rules and sued inNovember 2007, claiminvg the rules didn’t show how to verify the number of diagnostic catheterizationse performed. However, the state uphelc AHCA’s rules on Oct. 29, finallg clearing the way for the change.
Among the firsyt facilities likely to get the new Level I designation will be 14 hospitald that already have state permission to doemergencg angioplasty. Locally, that includes Orlando Health’s and in Clermont. South Lake Hospitak CEO John Moore said his facilityt eventually wants to provide the LevelI services. Dr. P. Phillips Hospitao will apply to become a Level I provider as soon saidAnita Loggins, patient care It has three cardiac cath labs now, plus spac e for two more. However, won’t seek the Levep I designation, said spokeswoman Jacquelins Lorenzetti, because the health systek feels “duplication of interventional capability is notclinicallyh warranted.
” Richard Morrison, regional vice president for Florida expects a rush by smaller hospitals to become Level 1 because they see it as profitable. But, he they may lack the neededc experienceand back-up. “I woulxd urge caution to hospitals rushing headlong into The goal isto expand, not glut, the said the Agency for Health Care Administration’s Gregg, who doesn’t expect an avalanche of Nor does he expect many Level I hospitalss to become Level II, because creatin g an open-heart program is costly. To be sure, open-heartt surgery once was a big moneymaker. But fewer such procedurexs aredone nowadays, as patients opt for drug therapiews and stents.
And that’s driving more patients to invasivw cardiologists, said Michael Carroll, a healtbh care consultant within Tampa. In addition, said Health Central’a Irwin, offering the procedurer locally rather than moving patientx to other hospitals willimprove outcomes.