Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, S.C., will soon host its first open-heart surgery after more than 10 years of conflict about the service with local hospitals, according to a State report.
In 2001, Lexington Medical Center received approval to offer cardiac catheterization services, but was denied a certificate of need for open-heart surgeries in 2006. Lexington Medical Center's CON request was opposed by Providence Hospitals in Columbia, S.C., and Columbia-based Palmetto Health, which already had open-heart surgery programs. The objecting hospitals argued that there was an insufficient number of open-heart surgery specialists to support three programs in the area.
In 2009, Lexington and Providence submitted a joint CON for open-heart surgery services at Lexington. The hospitals had reached an agreement in which Providence would de-license one of its open-heart surgery suites, allowing Lexington to open one in its place, in compliance with the state health plan. In return, Lexington would drop its opposition to Providence's plan to expand a hospital and would pay Providence $15 million over three years for de-licensing the suite, according to a 2009 Providence news release.
In 2010, Palmetto Health dropped its objection to Lexington's CON, and Lexington received approval.
Lexington plans to perform 100 to 150 heart surgeries in the first year. The hospital is also working to establish a relationship with Columbia Cardiology for patient referrals.
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In 2001, Lexington Medical Center received approval to offer cardiac catheterization services, but was denied a certificate of need for open-heart surgeries in 2006. Lexington Medical Center's CON request was opposed by Providence Hospitals in Columbia, S.C., and Columbia-based Palmetto Health, which already had open-heart surgery programs. The objecting hospitals argued that there was an insufficient number of open-heart surgery specialists to support three programs in the area.
In 2009, Lexington and Providence submitted a joint CON for open-heart surgery services at Lexington. The hospitals had reached an agreement in which Providence would de-license one of its open-heart surgery suites, allowing Lexington to open one in its place, in compliance with the state health plan. In return, Lexington would drop its opposition to Providence's plan to expand a hospital and would pay Providence $15 million over three years for de-licensing the suite, according to a 2009 Providence news release.
In 2010, Palmetto Health dropped its objection to Lexington's CON, and Lexington received approval.
Lexington plans to perform 100 to 150 heart surgeries in the first year. The hospital is also working to establish a relationship with Columbia Cardiology for patient referrals.
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