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Good
news for heart patients: Mid Coast Hospital receives OK for
catheterization lab
From
the Times
Record Website January 17, 2001
An article by Christopher Cousins
BRUNSWICK
— Mid Coast Hospital has received state approval to add a cardiac
catheterization laboratory to its new facility being built on
the Bath Road.
The hospital
was notified Tuesday in a written letter from Kevin W. Concannon,
commissioner of the Maine Department of Human Services, who
granted a certificate of need for the project in the Mid-coast
area. The project is expected to cost some $1.5 million.
According
to Scott Mills, cardiologist and director of medical services
for Mid Coast Hospital, the laboratory will improve the hospital's
ability to diagnose cardiac problems in its patients. The laboratory
allows doctors to insert sensors into the circulatory system
and navigate through the blood vessels to the heart.
Not only
can the tube's sensors measure blood pressure along the way,
it can inject dye near the heart so doctors can watch circulation
and observe the well-being of veins and arteries to determine
what measures are appropriate in caring for the patient.
Currently,
the hospital's cardiac diagnostic abilities are limited largely
to observations from outside the body, said Mills. In the year
2000, Mid Coast Hospital sent about 250 patients to Maine Medical
Center in Portland for the cardiac catheterization procedure.
"Traveling
to Portland is a big deal for some of these folks," said
Mills. "I've even had patients refuse to travel to Portland
for the procedure." Every time a patient is sent to Portland,
said Mills, one of Mid Coast Hospital's three cardiologists
goes too.
"That
means there are less of us around to take care of issues and
emergency situations here," said Mills. "Hopefully
we can better serve the community this way."
"I
am granting this certificate of need because I have determined
that a public need for the proposal has been demonstrated,"
stated Concannon in his approval letter. "The applicant
is fit, willing and able to provide the proposed services at
the proper standard of care."
Concannon
also approved the installation of cardiac catheterization laboratories
at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford, Mercy Hospital
in Portland and MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, The
Associated Press reported.
Five other
hospitals, in Bangor, Portland, York and two in Lewiston, already
have cardiac catheterization abilities. The state is still considering
applications for two more labs in northern Maine.
In order
for Mid Coast Hospital's certificate to remain valid, the project
must be commenced within one year.
Mike L'Abbe,
the hospital's spokesman, said Concannon's announcement is "great
news" for the Mid-coast.
"This
means a lot for the community," said L'Abbe. "And
it extends the overall development of health care services in
the state."
"I'm
absolutely elated," said Mills. "We've worked very
hard on this, and I really felt that this is appropriate for
the community."
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