Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 8A
. FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, Mwch 28,1999
Northeast Georgia Medical Center
seeks approval for open heart surgery
By Therese Allen
Staff Writer
On Wednesday, Northeast
Georgia Medical Center and
Health System asked the state for
a Certificate of Need to allow the
medical center to perform open
heart surgery.
Hospital officials say that 97
percent of their cardiac care
patients live closer to NGMC than
to any other existing open heart
surgery center in Georgia. If
approved, the new surgical center
tentatively would open in 2001.
Projections show that an open
heart surgery center could per
form as many as 200 surgeries in
it’s second year of operation.
Currently, NGMC serves 11 sur
rounding counties, including
Forsyth. “Last year, 660 people
and their families traveled out of
the Northeast Georgia community
to receive open heart surgery.”
said NGMC President John A.
Ferguson Jr.
One of those people was Joanne
Richard, chair of the nursing
MEDICALfrom 1A
With security with an appropriate
reason for their presence.
•* Baptist Medical Center •
Cumming is a smoke free environ
ment, which is a stipulation made
by the joint commission that
accredits hospitals. Also, the exec
utive committee of the medical
staff of Baptist Medical Center
decided Thursday evening to make
the entire campus “as smoke free
as possible.” Hospital officials are
djrging patients and visitors to
extinguish their cigarettes at a dis
tance of 50 feet from any of the
to buildings on the med
ical campus.
M George Ivey, Director of Public
relations for Georgia Baptist
Healthcare Systems said, “I can’t
for people to see what a really
State-of-the-art hospital this is and
it is truly the finest hospital in
me state of Geotgia.”
The hospital now has 200
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Cumming 570 Lakeland Plaza, Highway 9- (770) 844-1900
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department at Brenau University.
“A little over one year ago, my
husband had chest pains and was
taken to the center (NGMC)
where a cardiac cath was per
formed. He had severe blockage
of a major cardiac artery and
needed angioplasty immediately.
Since it could not be done at
(NGMC), he was put in an ambu
lance and transported to Atlanta.
There are no words to describe
what it is like trying to follow an
ambulance from Gainesville to
Atlanta at 4 p.m. I get chills when
I think of what might have hap
pened in that ambulance as it tried
to thread it’s way through traffic,
or to me as I tried to drive with
tears in my eyes and worry on my
mind.”
Although Forsyth’s new Baptist
Medical Center does not perform
open heart surgery, patients with
life threatening cardiac emergen
cies can be airlifted from there to
a facility that can perform the
necessary surgery.
NGMC performed 1,004 cardiac
catheters in 1998. Os those, an
physicians on staff and more call
each day to be a part of the med
ical community of Forsyth County.
Along with the general practition
ers who have been established in
the community for many years,
doctors from surrounding counties
are opening satellite offices here in
Cutnming. With the draw of being
the fastest growing county in the
United States and resort quality
living found on Lake Sidney
Lanier, many doctors are choosing
to make Forsyth County their
home as well.
Hospital officials promise, as
the community grows, that the
hospital will as well.
Herron said he envisions a con
tinuing state of construction on
campus for many years to come.
Plans for another medical building
are under way, and a Certificate of
Need for a women’s health care
center has been requested from the
estimated 180 patients went on to
an Atlanta facility to receive open
heart surgery. Gainesville
Cardiologist Dr. David Johnson
said, “Having to travel to Atlanta
creates quite a burden for patients
and their families, most of which
are from North Georgia and
whom are intimidated by Atlanta
traffic. Additionally, post-by pass
patients have to drive for hours
for ongoing follow-up appoint
ments.
Hospital officials said that the
rapidly growing area and high
population of elderly residents far
exceed the requirements set by the
State Health Planning agency.
They estimate total construction
cost at $6.1 million. The facility
would be adjacent to the surgical
pavilion. With four levels and
20,944 square feet of space, the
open heart surgery unit would
house 12 operating rooms, eight
intensive care cardiac rooms, 10
observation and cardiac care beds
and guest rooms for families
which need to spend the night
with their loved ones.
State Health Planning commis
sion.
Herron said he hopes to see the
realization of the dream of many
to see “babies born in Forsyth
County again” within the next two
years. Local 08/GYNs feel that
both North Fulton and Northeast
Georgia Medical Center will
oppose a certificate of need to
allow Baptist Medical to deliver
babies.
North Fulton Hospital cut the
ribbon on its new Women’s
Health Center earlier this month.
Herron and many doctors and resi
dents feel that, due to increasing
population and traffic problems
associated with Ga. 400, the State
Health Planning agency can be
convinced to approve the addition
to the facility.
See the Health & Safety section
of Progress in this edition for more
information.
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