California Hospital's Decision to End Eye Surgery Outrages Community

The decision by the Sierra View District Hospital in Porterville, Calif., to stop performing eye surgery in its ambulatory services department met with public outcry against the decision at a recent meeting with the hospital's Board of Directors, according to a report in The Porterville Recorder.

The board decided to stop its ophthalmology services in an Oct. 27 meeting in order to make room for expanded endoscopy services in the ambulatory services department, according to the report. Officials said that the hospital needed to free up six inpatient beds currently used by endoscopy patients and to reduce back-up in the PACU.

Board officials also cited an outdated microscope used for ophthalmology, which would require a $133,000 investment to replace, according to the report. This claim was denied by ophthalmologists working at the center. Retina specialist Shashi Ganti, MD, promised to donate a $40,000 laser and other equipment if the board reversed their decision so he could perform retina surgery at the hospital.

Supporters of the board's decision said that moving endoscopy would allow the hospital to see the most patients possible, according to the report.

The board will make its final decision in a Jan. 26 meeting.

Read the Recorder's report about SVDH's decision to end eye surgeries.