Eleven New Jersey hospitals without cardiac surgery centers have received clearance from the state's department of health to continue performing non-emergency angioplasties until nine months after study results on the procedure are published, according to a Burlington County Times report.
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has been conducting the study since 2005, which is intended to gauge the safety of artery-clearing angioplasty procedures at hospitals that don’t have cardiac surgeons available to handle complications. It is expected to end in mid-April.
As a result of the decision, the 11 hospitals can perform the procedure until nine months after the study results are published. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services officials said they recommended the nine-month extension to reduce disruption to patients and hospitals and permit time for public debate on a permanent state policy on the procedure once the study is completed, according to the report.
Supporters of the decision had urged the department of health's board to permit the procedure as a service to the communities and to ensure that data collected is up-to-date and an accurate reflection of the procedure's safety. Opponents, however, question the safety of angioplasties in hospitals without cardiac surgery centers.
Read the Burlington County Times report about New Jersey hospitals and angioplasty.
Read more about cardiac care and hospitals:
- 12 Statistics About Cardiologist Compensation by Compensation Method
- New Survey Shows Majority of Cardiologists Considering Integrating With Hospitals
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has been conducting the study since 2005, which is intended to gauge the safety of artery-clearing angioplasty procedures at hospitals that don’t have cardiac surgeons available to handle complications. It is expected to end in mid-April.
As a result of the decision, the 11 hospitals can perform the procedure until nine months after the study results are published. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services officials said they recommended the nine-month extension to reduce disruption to patients and hospitals and permit time for public debate on a permanent state policy on the procedure once the study is completed, according to the report.
Supporters of the decision had urged the department of health's board to permit the procedure as a service to the communities and to ensure that data collected is up-to-date and an accurate reflection of the procedure's safety. Opponents, however, question the safety of angioplasties in hospitals without cardiac surgery centers.
Read the Burlington County Times report about New Jersey hospitals and angioplasty.
Read more about cardiac care and hospitals:
- 12 Statistics About Cardiologist Compensation by Compensation Method
- New Survey Shows Majority of Cardiologists Considering Integrating With Hospitals