At least six of 141 patients who were told they might have received medically unnecessary coronary stents at Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, Penn., did not actually receive stents after all, according to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report.
Jerome E. Granato, MD, cardiologist and chief medical officer at parent company Excela Health, said the six patients received other unnecessary procedures, such as angioplasty or rotational atherectomy, to treat clogged arteries. Still, those six patients received letters in March notifying them that they were the recipients of unnecessary stents.
Last month, Westmoreland Hospital officials said the 141 patients were treated by two cardiologists — Ehab Morcos, MD, and George Bousamra, MD — who voluntarily resigned after administrators questioned their use of stents. The patients had coronary artery blockage of less than 50 percent and standards call for stenting when blockage is 70 percent or greater.
Dr. Granato said the six patients should have received different letters than those delivered in March to all 141 patients. The patients received letters of clarification this month.
Nineteen recipients of unnecessary stents are suing Excela and the two cardiologists over the matter.
Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report on Westmoreland Hospital.
Read more about Westmoreland Hospital and stents:
- Recipients of Allegedly Unnecessary Stents Sue Pennsylvania Hospital
- Investigation: 141 Patients Potentially Receive Unnecessary Stents at Pennsylvania Hospital
Jerome E. Granato, MD, cardiologist and chief medical officer at parent company Excela Health, said the six patients received other unnecessary procedures, such as angioplasty or rotational atherectomy, to treat clogged arteries. Still, those six patients received letters in March notifying them that they were the recipients of unnecessary stents.
Last month, Westmoreland Hospital officials said the 141 patients were treated by two cardiologists — Ehab Morcos, MD, and George Bousamra, MD — who voluntarily resigned after administrators questioned their use of stents. The patients had coronary artery blockage of less than 50 percent and standards call for stenting when blockage is 70 percent or greater.
Dr. Granato said the six patients should have received different letters than those delivered in March to all 141 patients. The patients received letters of clarification this month.
Nineteen recipients of unnecessary stents are suing Excela and the two cardiologists over the matter.
Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report on Westmoreland Hospital.
Read more about Westmoreland Hospital and stents:
- Recipients of Allegedly Unnecessary Stents Sue Pennsylvania Hospital
- Investigation: 141 Patients Potentially Receive Unnecessary Stents at Pennsylvania Hospital